We live our whole lives, and towards the end, you realize all my success means nothing without leaving a legacy to be remembered.”
–Kenneth Pratt (Hollister)
“But how quickly they forgot what he had done! They wouldn’t wait for his advice.”
–Psalm 106:13 (CEB)
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3.1 — My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commands;
.2 — For length of days and long life and peace they will add to you. (NKJV)
3.1 — My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments,
.2 — for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. (ESV)
It is vital to a successful life that we learn God’s truth and obey it. As Warren Wiersbe states, “It isn’t enough for believers to carry the Bible in their hands; they must let the Holy Spirit write it on their hearts. Obedience to the Word can add years to your life and life to your years.” In Proverbs, “We are here taught to live a life of communion with God.” (Matthew Henry) The Bible is required to adhere to if we are to truly develop a Christian worldview for our life. The words of Francis Schaeffer ring true, “True spirituality covers all of reality.”
Our steps are to be order to and by the Word of God. Two terms should be emphasized: “do not forget,” where the emphasis is actually “always remember.” The term “keep” means “to look hard at,” or “to watch over.” This implies a disciplined, attentive life. “If we can learn to be obedient to the will of God we will find that life becomes a little easier to live, and a lot more fulfilling. Life ceases to be such a struggle, and it becomes a joy.” (Dan Dick) Paul writes to the church at Colossae, “…to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.” (Colossians 1:9-10, NKJV) Know and understand the truth of God is vital then; He is willing to share with His children. Dan Dick writes, “Our God is a God of order and sense. He knows infinitely more than we can ever hope to, and He shares His knowledge with us to help us through our lives.”
Memory, the internalization of God’s Word into our minds and heart is vital in keeping God’s commands. Someone said that, “Memory holds a very important place in the formation of moral character.” Paul tells us to “hold fast that word…” (1 Corinthians 15:2) “When the heart keeps the Divine Word, mercy and truth will not forsake the character.” Our minds must be fixed–focused on the Word of God. The Psalmist said, “Your Word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” (119:11, NKJV) We must make a determined effort to prepare our hearts and then to obey. We read about Ezra, the priest, “For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.” (Ezra 7:10, NKJV) Do not think this is only Old Testament, for Jesus states, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word…” (John 14:23, NKJV).
Focus, discipline, obey are all key to knowing and not forgetting, and keeping the Word of the Lord. Memory depends a great deal on attention to what God says. The theologian Ralph Wardlaw speaks to the important of giving attention to God’s Word, “He who feel no interest will not attend, and he who does not attend will not remember.” The whole heart should desire the Word of God, the mind should attentively seek it, and then the total person should readily act upon it. Can a person call themselves a Christian if there is not sincere interest in communion with God?
There will be a wonderful blessing for those who keeps God’s Word. It could be inferred that prosperity awaits–but understand, prosperity does not necessarily mean rich in the things of the world. It goes much deeper than that. The Christian has new life–that is true prosperity. Bob Beasley points out several means of spiritual prosperity: “no longer slaves to disobedience, no longer separated from the love of God; no longer under the bondage of guilt, or fear, or the law. No longer do we walk under the shadow of eternal death.” Think of the deeper meaning of “length of days.” Eternity is a long time. “He asked you for life, and you gave it to him, all right–long days, forever and always!” (Psalm 21:4, CEB) I like what the Scottish minister, William Arnot says, “Submission to His will is the best condition for humanity.”
I would then ask: Why should we not follow the instructions of our Father if we are indeed His children? Why would be purposely be disobedient children? The Father most certainly knows what is good and best for us.