How Can a Man Commune With God?

The first few chapters of the book of Proverbs emphasise the picture of a father lovingly speaking to his son and passing on wisdom to his son that will enable him to live a purposeful and God pleasing life. The first few verses of this chapter carry on with this picture and emphasise key aspects that are required as man lives and communes with God.

In the opening 2 verses, the father urges the son to not let go of his word and his commandments but to keep them in his heart. This is an exhortation to not let go of the truth of the word of God but to hold on to it even when the world contradicts. This echoes the words Jesus to the Samaritan women that God is seeking those who will worship Him in Spirit and Truth. How can a man worship God if he knows not who God is and how He ought to be worshipped. We must hold on to the word of God as that which reveals God and teaches us to workshop him. Living according to this word will indeed give us peace both with God (eternally) and with man.

In the next 10 verses, the writer highlights several aspects to how we ought to relate with God as we live on earth:

1. Steadfast Love and Faithfulness:

“³ Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart.”

Those who live with God need to represent God in how their love for God and their fellow brothers and sisters. The writer here not only says that we should love but that our love for God and man ought to be steadfast, truly reflecting the 1 Corinthians 13 kind of love. A love that is intentional and persistent.
The writer then mentions faithfulness or rather being true in our words and actions. Basically, being people who always speak the truth and carry through on our promises. The book of proverbs is filled with many verses that portray how the Lord hates liars or those who say one thing and do the other. As those who walk with God we must waly in the truth.

2. Faith and Dependence on God

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. ⁶ In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. ⁷ Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and turn away from evil.

A man cannot commune with God unless he depends on and believes in God. The Christian life is lived in full dependence on God for all this. We depend on him for all things that relate to our salvation, victory over sin, provision on earth, success of our marriages and raising of our children. Indeed, it is true that without faith we cannot please God. Even in the day-to-day decisions we make, we must let go of all human wisdom and trust in the wisdom of God. We must trust the word of God to define everything that is contained in scripture, from the type of person we marry, how we raise our kids, how we conduct ourselves in the workplace, etc. All these are to be defined by God through His word and we ought to trust God enough to abandon our human wisdom to live according to His divine wisdom

3. Faithfulness to God in our Finances

⁹ Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the first fruits of all your produce ¹⁰ then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.

There are a few things in this the Christian world that are as contentious as honoring God with our wealth and possessions. The rise of false teachers and those who use the gospel for self-gain have created a distrust between the Christians and the church when it comes to giving. However, the scripture is clear that how we use our money is a good reflection of our maturity and relationship with Christ, for example, Matthew 6: ¹⁹ “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust^[e]destroy and where thieves break in and steal, ²⁰ but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  

These verses make it clear that if we are to commune with God, the Lord needs to have authority on how we use our wealth for His purposes and glory. This can be characterized by giving to the church, missions, brothers/ sisters who are in need etc. Regardless of how we are led to do it, the main point is that we need to see our belief and obedience to God reflected in our use of resources and possessions.

4. Humility in the Face of Discipline

¹¹ My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline or be weary of his reproof, ¹² for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.

We will often find ourselves in sin and straying away from the path of righteousness. In these moments the Lord will always discipline us in order to bring us back to the path of righteousness. This discipline can take on many forms: an uncomfortable conversation with a fellow Christian, discipline from the church and negative results from our action. In all these circumstances we are to see the loving hand of God bringing us back and correct us and respond in humility and repentance

All these instructions that relate to how we commune or live with God also carry with them some generally acceptable promises that are applicable in this life. For example, length of days, favor with God and men, increases in resources and etc. All these the Lord will give in accordance with His will and grace to those he pleases. But even in the absence of these, there is a promise for eternal crowns and glory for all those who live in according to these principles and commune with God.