Life Principle #3: Let love and faithfulness never leave you

From Proverbs 3:3, 4: Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. (NIV)

Proverbs 3:3 reads, let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. The two words - love and faithfulness - in the Hebrew language is khesed ve'emet.

The word khesed means God's loyal love, His covenantal love. The Brown-Driver-Bringgs Hebrew Dictionary says when khesed is used in its meaning for people it is mercy, affection, lovely appearance. In its meaning for God it is loving kindness, deeds of mercy, and deeds of kindness.

Khesed is dependent on the giver and not the receiver. If God made a covenant with us by His love, the prime example of which is seen in John 3:16, then God is faithful to love us till He calls us home and even in eternity. One professor at Dallas Seminary said this - it is the faithful love that goes after you and does not let you go, even when you turn away. It is love that seeks after... love that remains loyal because of God's covenant.

The second word ve'emet means truth, firmness, faithfulness. It represents things proved to be reliable and trustworthy. When the noun is used of God's truth, it indicates His dependability or faithfulness.

Here, the writer of Proverbs is asking us, readers to bind ourselves with khesed ve'emet or faithful, dependable, loyal love that displays itself through loving kindness and mercy. He adds: write it on the tablet of your heart. In doing so, he is asking us to not just cultivate a discipline but for the very essence of our character to be filled with loyal love... the writer wants us to change into the image of God. This is what Paul writes about in Colossians 3:10, and have been clothed with the new man which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of the one who created it. As we grow in our knowledge of God, we begin to be changed in our thinking and we begin to demonstrate God's character. This is God's desire for each one of us, as Paul writes in Romans 8:29, because those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be confirmed to the image of His Son.

Following this command on Proverbs 3:3 we read, then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man (v.4). It holds the idea of competence, efficiency or a reputation for prudence.

The third life principle from the book of Proverbs is for love and faithfulness to be an integral part of our character; then we will receive grace from God and a reputation for prudence from men.