Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will find favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. (Proverbs 3:3-4)
Proverbs reflects the heart of a parent. A good parent wants the best for their children. They desire them to succeed, to enjoy life, to follow truth, to find the best of friends, to know God. Yet all you can do as a parent is lead them and plead with them. You cannot make them follow this path. It is the great risk of love. You love them and sacrifice for them but you can’t force them to love in return or even to follow your advice.
As you read Proverbs, you see the heart of a father pleading with his son. “Listen to me. Don’t go down this path. It only leads to destruction. Love God. Follow truth. Learn to be humble and teachable. And you will find life and joy.” Unfortunately there are other voices in society calling out to them…”Don’t listen. Do what you want. Take what you want. Be your own king. Who cares what others think? Who cares what God thinks? Happiness is found in getting what you want when you want it…regardless of who it hurts.” That same struggle goes on today. Not much has changed in 3000 years.
Proverbs 3 is probably one of the most beloved chapters in Proverbs. And verses 5-6 are probably the most known verses in the whole book. But this morning my eyes were drawn to verses 3-4.
Let love and faithfulness never leave you (NIV). The New King James says, Let not mercy and truth forsake you. The two Hebrew words are chesed (lovingkindness, mercy) and emet (truth, faithfulness) so both translations are correct. I personally like to mix them. Let love and truth never leave you. Pursue love. Pursue truth. Let both characterize your life.
Bind them around your neck. Make love and truth your necklace. Let it be the adornment of your life. When others see you, let them see a person who loves and cares for others and a person who speaks the truth and lives the truth without compromise. Caring and consistent. The perfect balance of intimacy in relationships and integrity in life.
Write them on the tablet of your heart. To be an outward adornment it has to be an inward reality. Make love and truth your passion, your priority, your pursuit. Love God. Know truth. Love others. Be truthful. Measure your life by how much you are growing in your love for God and others and how much you are living consistent with God’s truth.
Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. Others notice a life of love and truth. Even if they hate what you stand for, they come to respect who you are. Even if they resist your love, deep down they desire what you have. I am reminded of Proverbs 16:7, When a man’s ways are pleasing to the LORD, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him. A life of love and truth speaks volumes. It cannot be ignored. It wins the favor of others. And more importantly, it resides in the favor and grace of God.
Lord, let my life be characterized by Your love and Your truth.