Have you ever seen a movie where the hero needs to keep his grip or he’ll fall to his death? It’s always a cliffhanger (pun intended). Sometimes he’s hanging on with just a few fingers. We’re watching it on the movie screen and wondering if we can do the same (or maybe that is just me thinking this). It’s Hollywood magic that makes it happen so perfectly and easily.

But in actual life, there is a lot of stuff that you must commit to if you will keep your grip. In a few words – WISDOM TRAINING.

King Solomon wrote an impressive deal about keeping your grip on certain things. One way you can sum up his third chapter of Proverbs is ‘Don’t assume you know it all, USE WISDOM!’ It would sound like this in today’s vocabulary, ‘Don’t let your ego get the best of you. DON’T BE A FOOL!’
Here’s a newsflash: it’s VERY easy for that to happen. And whatever is easy to do is also very easy not to do.

Solomon writes, “Good friend, don’t forget all I’ve taught you; take to heart my commands.” – Proverbs 3:1 MSG

Then he takes it another step higher. He says, tie a reminder around your neck. Now, this is a reminder that you don’t forget! Forget about putting that reminder on your cell phone, hang it on yourself around your neck. The Message translation reads like this: Don’t lose your grip on Love and Loyalty (Truth and Mercy). Tie them around your neck; carve their initials on your heart. Earn a reputation for living well in God’s eyes and the eyes of the people (in all your ways, in your everyday decisions).
Proverbs 3:3‭-‬4 MSG

Solomon cautions about this double metaphor, love and loyalty – “Don’t lose your grip” implies that it’s possible to lose it. It’s like the movie scene we just talked about. You’re on the ledge by your fingertips and gravity is waging war against the strength of your fingers to hang on. The hero in this movie must survive in order for the story to have real meaning. In order for your life to have this real meaning, you must keep your grip on this Love and Loyalty.

This brings me to my next point.

By keeping your grip you EARN a reputation for living well in God’s eyes and the eyes of the people.
Proverbs 3:3‭-‬4 MSG

You might fool some people, part of the time, but you’ll never fool all the people, all the time. I earn a reputation. As wise as Solomon was, he understood that you have to be something BEFORE you can do something. You feel these attributes as well as see them.

Love and kindness EARNS you a reputation before you try to make a name for yourself. It lets others know that you’ve established a grip for principles that are bigger than you.

A grip of love and loyalty is dual in its application. It’s not just of God toward men but of men toward one another. These two states of conduct are within our power to be. Because of this excellent service to others, you will earn what others won’t: a grip on love and loyalty.