Leaning and Upright

Proverbs 3:5,6

G K Chesterton said in his book Orthodoxy that “There are an infinity of angles at which one falls, only one at which he stands.” In other words having a thorough understanding of God and of man, the human race has the tendency to lean or bend towards sin and depravity. And it is very easy! Solomon talks about leaning here in our text and the easiest way to lean is to lean to our own understanding. We think that we know best and even when we pray we find ourselves asking God not only to answer on our behalf, but also try to tell him how to do it. When things don’t go our way we become disappointed, discouraged, and even angry, which can lead to stumbling and falling.

God demands uprightness and the only way that we can truly be upright is to lean not to our own understanding but in all of our ways acknowledge him and he will direct our paths.

Solomon in the Song of Solomon asked a question in the last chapter. “Who is this coming up out of the wilderness leaning on her beloved?” (Song of Solomon 8:5) The answer is those who trust in the Lord Jesus Christ! The only way we can walk upright is by leaning upon Jesus.

So the lesson is that if we lean to our own understanding we will eventually fall, but if we lean on Jesus, not only will we not fall, (Jude 24) but we will also meet Gods demand of being upright, because it is by trusting in Christ that we stand.

Think of the hymn “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms” today and allow God to “order your steps by his word” so that“iniquity will not have dominion over you.” (Psalms 119:133)

Pastor Robby