Proverbs 3:4 (Mini Sermon)

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4. Pro 3:4 - "So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man." A. In addition to a long, peaceful life (Pro 3:2), there is yet another blessing in store for the man who remembers God's law and keeps His commandments (Pro 3:1) and binds mercy and truth about his neck (Pro 3:3): he will find favour and good understanding in the eyes of both God and his fellowman. B. So shalt thou find favour...in the sight of God and man. i. Favour n. - 1. a. Propitious or friendly regard, goodwill, esp. on the part of a superior or a multitude. to find favour in the eyes of (orig. a Hebraism): to gain the goodwill of. a. Inserting the definition into the verse, we see that the man who keeps God's word and is known for his mercifulness and honesty will find friendly regard and goodwill from men. b. He will be praised by heathen and Christian alike, having "a good report of them which are without" (1Ti 3:7) and a "good report of all men, and of the truth itself" (3Jo 1:12). c. The young Samuel experienced this, for it was said of him that he "grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men" (1Sa 2:26). ii. The Son of God is the preeminent example of a man who lived the first three verses of Proverbs 3, and in turn experienced the promised blessing of verse four. a. The scripture declares that "grace and truth came by Jesus Christ" (Joh 1:17) who is "full of grace and truth" (Joh 1:14). b. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that as a child Jesus, being the embodiment of mercy and truth, "increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man" (Luk 2:52). iii. Another example of the fulfillment of Pro 3:4 was the early Christians in the Jerusalem church. a. They were full of mercy, so much so that they "sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need" (Act 2:45). b. As a result, they had "favour with all the people," and also had favour with God, which is evident from the fact that He "added to the church daily such as should be saved" (Act 2:47). C. And good understanding in the sight of God and man. i. Not only will keeping God's commandments and exhibiting mercy and truth (Pro 3:1-3) ensure that a man will find favour with God and man, but it will also guarantee that he will find good understanding in their sight. ii. Understanding comes from the word of God (Pro 2:6), and it is acquired through knowing Him (Pro 9:10). iii. When we study the scriptures, we show ourselves approved unto God (2Ti 2:15). iv. When we meditate upon them, our profiting will appear to all (1Ti 4:15). v. Thus, we find "good understanding in the sight of God and man" (Pro 3:4). vi. Gaining understanding, we then find further favour with God and man, as it is written, "good understanding giveth favour" (Pro 13:15).