Instruction...Trust

Good Morning,

Proverbs 16:20 (NIV)
Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers,
and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.

I'm sure that we all know people who have not prospered in their lives. We also know those who don't appear to be blessed. Now, I'm sure that there are many reasons for this, but today we see clearly what the Bible tells us about prosperity and blessing. God tells us clearly that if we listen to, and carry out, His instructions to us as we read them in the Bible, then we will be prosperous. He also tells us that if we will trust in Him then we will be blessed.

So, I would then believe that at least part of the reason that some people aren't prosperous and some people aren't blessed could very well be that they have not followed God's instructions and have not put their trust totally in Him. Seems logical doesn't it? Yet, even though we know this and have been taught this from an early age, there are many of us who have not followed this advice as is written in today's Scripture.

Now, I can't tell you that ALL people who follow God's instructions and ALL people who trust in Him will be 100% prosperous or have all of the blessings that are available. No, I can't say that for sure and be positive that results will be what we think they ought to be. However, it seems clear that if we refuse to follow God's instructions and will not trust in Him, well then, it's pretty clear that prosperity and blessing will be difficult to come by.

Of course there will be some who will say that there are those who ARE prosperous and SEEM blessed who don't recognize God and won't accept Jesus Christ into their lives. That's true, certainly, and I don't know why that is. Some will also say that it appears there are people who DO follow God's instructions and trust COMPLETELY in Him, and yet they DON'T appear prosperous or blessed. Again, I don't know why that is, either. Those answers will have to come from the Lord when we see Him face to face. However, something to think about here...When we see people who appear to be prosperous and blessed although they don't follow God in any way, are they? I mean really? Just because they have money and seem to be abounding in blessings, if we look more closely, what does that prosperity and those apparent blessings really bring to their lives? Then again, when we see others who follow God's instructions and trust in Him but don't seem to have much in the way of finances or being blessed, if we peer deeply into their lives what we might find is that they really ARE prosperous and truly HAVE BEEN blessed. It just might be that we don't recognize it because we are using the wrong yard sticks to measure.

I think that this discussion can be ended simply by saying that it certainly IS better to follow all of God's instructions and that we SHOULD trust in Him. Those things will surely be best for us in every area of our lives.

Love, peace, and blessings,

David