Oct. 5, 2020

Senator Marco Rubio on Proverbs 3:5-6 -- “Trust: Lessons from the Proverbs"

Mark’s friend, Senator Marco Rubio, joins him on the podcast today. The son of Cuban immigrants, Marco grew up in Miami and Las Vegas, entered public service as a City Commissioner, and was elected to the United States Senate in 2010. In his current role, he has become a leader on a variety of issues from United States support of Israel to immigration to Latin America, earning himself the title of a ‘virtual Secretary of State for Latin America’ from The New York Times. Having known him for ten years now, Mark considers him to be exceedingly well informed on any topic, and recommends that anyone who has anything cynical to say about politicians really should meet Marco. The passage he has chosen today is Proverbs 3:5-6.

Marco begins their discussion by sharing his summary of the passage, his reasons for selecting it, and examining some of the key words from it as well as their translation. He and Mark then explore the themes within the passage such as trusting and leaning on the Lord and rationalization and accountability, and how these themes are experienced in society today. They also look at the difference between human and Godly understanding, the differing attitudes towards those with greater responsibility in our world, and the foundation the Bible provides for current laws and policies. Marco concludes the discussion by offering his practical advice derived from the passage, the ways in which he and his colleagues enhance their understanding of the Bible, and the lessons he has learned about mankind. As Mark states, in today’s episode, Marco shares ‘so many enduring observations…from four lines of a magnificent proverb’, and together they surface its many lessons and practical applications.

Episode Highlights:

  • Marco’s summary of the passage and his reasons for selecting it
  • Some of the key words of the passage and their translation
  • Trusting and leaning on the Lord
  • Rationalizations and accountability
  • Marco’s perspective on accountability in the Senate
  • The difference between human and Godly understanding
  • The differing attitudes people have towards those with greater responsibility
  • Marco’s practical advice derived from this passage
  • The foundation the Bible provides for our current laws and policies
  • How Marco and his colleagues enhance their understanding of the Bible
  • The lessons about mankind that Marco has learned

Quotes:

“Just be able to speak knowledgeably about any topic for four minutes and you’ll fool them all.”

“I think it’s the first lesson of Judaism, and obviously it becomes the first lesson of Christianity.”

“If you go through the Ten Commandments as they were handed down, why would you believe any of them if you don’t trust in the source of those commandments?”

“It’s a guide book from the manufacturer.”

“Don’t lean on your own understanding, because you’re going to fool yourself if you give yourself the chance. Instead, trust in the Lord with all your heart.”

“Time and again, no matter how much the Lord has proven Himself, we constantly find reason to doubt that He’ll do it again.”

“Very few bad people actually think they’re bad people…they just think of these fantastic justifications to do what they really should know is bad.”

“If you have to sneak it in, then that means there’s something wrong with it.”

“You can’t apply something you don’t understand.”

“We live in the world of the Bible.”

“What we all have in common is that we have something special about us…and…everyone wants to matter.”

“Identify the gift that God has given you, and apply it to something meaningful.”

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And do not rely on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths smooth. https://www.sefaria.org/Proverbs.3.5-6?lang=bi

Links:

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