All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weighs the motive. Commit your works to the LORD and your thoughts will be established (Prov 16:2,3).
This proverb bears relationship to that discussed last week. Paul describes the new covenant as the ministry of the Holy Spirit who indwells all who come by grace to a saving faith in Jesus (2 Cor 3:7,8). It is by the divine influence of the Spirit called grace that one is convicted of sin and develops godly sorrow leading to repentance (2 Cor 7:10). Faith to believe in Jesus is a gift from God (Eph 2:8) to all who repent by turning from their own ways and turning to the ways of God in order to receive the indwelling of Christ: “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that He may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you, even Jesus (Acts 3:19). It then is submitting to the transforming work of the Spirit of Christ that one learns to walk in righteousness and thereby glorify the Father in heaven (Titus 2:11,12). As the sinful nature inherited from Adam is progressively crucified, the ways of a person may appear pure at times, but often there are hidden motives. Whether one is aware of it or not, there is often the seeking of recognition or approval by others behind deeds which are commendable. We may be unwilling to acknowledge any ulterior motives in belief that our motives are truly “clean” and pure. Nonetheless scripture reminds us that our hearts are deceitful and beyond any kind of natural cure (Jeremiah 17:9). The one hope of genuine transformation takes place by God’s grace in being born again and receiving a new spiritual heart (Eze 36:26) so that the Holy Spirit can begin His inner work of renewing our minds. Instead of having God’s commandments written on stone tablets, God promises under the new covenant to write His commands and the hearts of those saved by faith in His Son (Jeremiah 31:33) and Holy Spirit will incline true believers to follow the ways of God in paths of righteousness. And this transformation requires cooperation by a believer with the sanctifying work of the Spirit. As the present proverb tells us, we are to commit our works to the LORD so our thoughts might be “established,” meaning to be firmly grounded in faithfulness. We would love to appropriate all the riches to be found in Christ by simply coming to a saving relationship (Eph 3:8). But as the psalmist writes, the one blessed is he who meditates day and night on the Word of God (Psalm 1:2). Renewing of minds must take place if God’s ways are to be established (Romans 12:2), and this takes place by washing of the mind daily in the water of God’s Word. It is the consistent, diligent study and meditation (not merely reading) on God’s Word which is needed and both the OT and NT scriptures must be studied. Treasures in OT scripture are linked in harmony with NT scripture like a beautiful strand of pearls which meld together in telling God’s redemptive plan for man. In learning to appreciate this harmony of scripture, the Word of God becomes a sword that judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart by the Spirit as nothing else can accomplish (Hebrews 4:12).
