PROVERBS FOR THE GRADUATES---PROV. 3:1-10

Intro: My heart is burdened for the bright wonderful young people who have just graduated. On the one hand I am encouraged and excited about the possibilities that await them; but on the other hand, I am concerned about their spiritual futures.

The Lord has many warnings to young people in His Word. The Book of Proverbs alone offers dozens of warnings about everything from choosing right friends to the choosing of a mate to sexual purity.

 You will hear many well-meaning people tell you to "follow your dreams" or "follow your heart". That is not my intention tonight. If you will give me your undivided attention for just a few minutes, by God's grace I will endeavor to challenge you to follow the Lord, starting now for the rest of your lives.

 I. DON'T FORGET THE WORD!    Proverbs_3:1-2

A. Keep it in your heart.

                    1. You need to be here to hear it preached.

                    2. You need to read and study it on your own.

                    3. You need to memorize it.

                    4. You do all this to OBEY it!

           B. There are benefits for doing so.

                    1. Length of days

                    2. Long life

                    3. Peace

 II. DON'T FORSAKE MERCY AND TRUTH  Proverbs_3:3-4

          A. Bind Them About Your Neck.

          B. Write Them Upon Your Heart.

          C. Benefit - Favor And Good Understanding In Sight Of God And Man.

 III. TRUST THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART   Proverbs_3:5-6

         A. Don't trust your own understanding.

                    1. Not your thinking

                    2. Not your feelings

                    3. Not your experience

      Proverbs 28:26  He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he     

      shall be delivered.

          B. Acknowledge the Lord in all your ways.

                    1. Acknowledge Him As Your Lord.   

                    2. Acknowledge His Right To You.

                    3. In All Your Ways.

                             a. Picking friends

                             b. Picking career

                             c. Dating!

          C. Benefit - God will direct your paths!

IV. DON'T BE WISE IN YOUR OWN EYES!    Proverbs_3:7-8

          A. Fear the Lord

                    1. Fear His judgment of sin

                    2. Fear disappointing our Heavenly Father

                    3. Respect and reverence all that pertains to Him.

          B. Depart from evil.

                    1. Run from it.

                    2. Keep running from it.

       3. Keep on running from it.

2 Timothy 2:22  Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

          C. Benefit - Health (physical & spiritual)

V. SPEND AND BE SPENT FOR THE LORD   Proverbs_3:9-10

          A. Give God your best all the time!

          B. Give God honor with what you have!

          C. Benefit - Your needs will be met.

Conclusion:

Ecclesiastes 12:1 Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;

Ecclesiastes 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

 I beg you by the Word of God to give up control of your future to the Lord Jesus Christ! Obey Him, and decide to live a Christ-dominated life from this day forward. Leave everything to follow Him.

Mark 10:28 Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee. 29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, 30 But he shall receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.

 If you find this too difficult, or if you believe this is unreasonable, perhaps you should check your own hearts to see if you are truly saved. Paul said this was reasonable in:

Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.