LEARN, RETAIN, OBEY, ENJOY
“My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.” Proverbs 3:1, 2
The blessed life is the obedient life. God’s way is best. There are great benefits to those who apply God’s truth to their lives, “length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.” These simple statements are so true, yet the devil has convinced people otherwise. He has caused the foolish to believe that the greatest joy and happiness is reserved for the sinner, and the life of serving God is something that must be endured, not enjoyed. We know those who, at one time, believed that a life devoted to service to Christ is a life of boredom, poverty, and regret. To the contrary, great blessings await those who apply these principles.
The Scripture gives us both promises and a practical path to life as God intended it. We are cautioned not to forget God’s law; but in order to remember or retain it, it must first be learned. This is a very important step that leads to the blessed life; we are to discover or learn God’s truth. How can we obey something we have never heard? How can we apply something we have never known? Ours is a lifelong pursuit of wisdom and truth. We are to learn God’s ways and His Word. This comes from reading, studying, and hearing the Bible taught and preached.
Then we are to retain, or remember, what we have learned. We are to retain His wisdom. It is easy to forget the things we have learned. One of the most common reasons we forget is because we fail to use or apply them.
Then we are to keep, or obey, God’s Word. There is a breakdown that quite often occurs at this point. Knowing the truth is not enough; we are to apply it, or obey, what we have learned. If we would consistently live the things we know to be true, what a difference it would make!
Also, we are told to “let thine heart keep my commandments.” This means that we are not to obey with a sense of dread or resentment, but with a cheerful attitude. God wants us to delight in His truth. His commandments are for our benefit. They will only serve to help us find His perfect will. It is not possible to over-emphasize the importance of God’s Word in our lives. As we learn, retain, and obey the principles of Scripture, we will also enjoy a fuller and more meaningful life.