Everlasting Wisdom #2: In God We Trust

Everlasting Wisdom #2

IN GOD WE TRUST

 

Proverbs 3:5-6 (TEV) Trust the Lord with all  your heart. Never rely on  what you think you know.  Remember the Lord in  everything you do, and he  will show you the right way.

• The motto “In God We Trust” was placed on United States coins largely because of the increased religious sentiment existing during the Civil War. Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase received many appeals from devout persons throughout the country, urging that the United States recognize the Deity on United States coins. • • As a result of these letters, Secretary Chase instructed James Pollock, Director of the Mint at Philadelphia, to prepare a motto, in a letter dated November 20, 1861, in which he stated: • •

• Dear Sir: • No nation can be strong except in the strength of God, or safe except in His defense. The trust of our people in God should be declared on our national coins. You will cause a device to be prepared without unnecessary delay with a motto expressing in the fewest and tersest words possible this national recognition. • Since 1938, all United States coins bear the inscription. A law passed by the 84th Congress and approved by the President on July 11, 1955 said that the motto should appear on all United States paper currency and coins.

• PUT YOUR TRUST IN GOD…

1. WHEN THINGS  HAPPEN THAT YOU  JUST DON’T  UNDERSTAND  (VERSE 5)

• Life is not a bed of roses • And we go through these circumstances, we tend to ask “why?” • Psalm 10:1 Why do You stand afar off, O LORD? Why do You hide in times of trouble? • Psalm 22:1 My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, And from the words of My groaning?

• Psalm 44:23 Awake! Why do You sleep, O Lord? … Why do You hide Your face, And forget our affliction and our oppression

• Give up your right to understand—trust in his wisdom • King David • Ps 131:1-2 • I don’t concern myself with matters too great or too awesome for me to grasp. Instead, I have calmed and quieted myself, like a weaned child who no longer cries for its mother’s milk. Yes, like a weaned child is my soul within me.

• When things happen that you don’t understand• Trust in the Lord—Surrender the right to understand

2. WHEN YOU ARE FACED  WITH A DECISION (VERSE 6) • In all thy ways acknowledge him… • The entire book of Proverbs is hinged on one verse—Prov 1:7—the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom

• • • •

F—First seek His Kingdom E—Embrace the wisdom of His word A—Accept His revelation R—Revere Him

• First Seek His Kingdom • Matt 6:33-Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you. • “Trust in the Lord with all your heart.” This same word “all” is used in Leviticus 6:22 to refer to an offering that was to be burned in its entirety. • Follow the path of wisdom

• Embrace the wisdom of his word • In the book of proverbs, two paths are presented: the path of wisdom and the path of folly. • Proverbs--What makes them fool is that they ignore God’s wisdom, preferring to follow the shifting dictates of the crowd or their own fallible opinions

• Proverbs 14:12: “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” • Prov 28:26-He who trusts in himself is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom is kept safe.” • Consider Abraham’s poor example in Genesis  12.

• Accept His Guidance • Revere Him

3. WHEN THE FUTURE SEEMS  UNCERTAIN (VERSE 6) •   • •

…and He shall direct thy paths.  

WHAT DOES IT  MEAN TO TRUST  GOD? •

Trust and obedience go hand in hand.

Proverbs 3:5-6  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. •