Success in the eyes of God is not measured by your possessions but by your person. God is not impressed by what you own but who you are. Our passage today explains how to “find favor and good success in the sight of God and man.” That, at the end of the day, is true gain.

Proverbs 3:3-4
Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man.

Here’s the formula: Live a life characterized by love (Hebrew: chesed—kindness and goodness) and faithfulness (Hebrew: emeth—firmness and truth). These two qualities are the essence of a person who follows hard after Jesus. “Bind them around your neck” to guide your actions. “Write them on the tablet of your heart” to guide your inner person. Love and faithfulness are not to be on our list of spiritual disciplines. They are to saturate our nature.

So don’t go make a list of things to do to demonstrate love and faithfulness. Ask God to penetrate your heart with these spiritual qualities. When he does, the doing will come naturally.

Father, penetrate our hearts with your kindness. Fill our hearts with your faithfulness. Develop these qualities within us so that they naturally flow through us. May we live to win your favor and have a good name in your sight.
In Christ’s name.
Amen.