Foolish Wisdom
Proverbs 3:5-8 reads, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.” (ESV)
In a previous post we considered Proverbs 3:5-6. Here, we will focus on verses 7-8. As a unit, Proverbs 3:5-8 reminds us that life, at its most basic level, isn’t complicated. Solomon’s words remind us that life’s ultimate outcome hinges on one critical choice. Proverbs 3:5 asks if we will live our lives “trusting in the Lord with all our heart” or if we will live “leaning on our own understanding”. Rephrasing the question, verse 7 asks if we will choose to be “wise in our own eyes” or if we will choose to “fear the Lord and turn away from evil”?
In your attitudes and actions, how have you answered these fundamental questions? Have you chosen to be “wise in your own eyes”? In your day-to-day life do you lean on your own understanding? Or can you honestly say that you fear God and habitually turn away from evil? Can those around you see that you trust in the Lord with all your heart?
Many never consider what it means to “be wise in your own eyes.” Being wise in your own eyes means being governed by your own thoughts, opinions, and desires. To be wise in your own eyes is to reject the existence of any objective truth external to yourself—including God and his word. Ultimately, to be “wise in your own eyes” is to reject the truth that “in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” It is to reject the reality that God owns you. Choosing to be “wise in your own eyes” is the ultimate expression of rebellion against your Maker. It is to trust self, the creature, rather than the Creator. It is to trust in someone who exercises no ultimate power over their own life. Trusting self is to trust someone who is hopelessly deceived (Jeremaiah 17: 9). To be wise in your own eyes is to be cursed by God (Jeremiah 17:5). Its end is self-destruction and eternal condemnation. No wonder Isaiah 5:21 warns, “Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes.” In the same way, Proverbs 26:12 declares, “Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.”
There is, of course, a life-saving alternative to “being wise in your own eyes”. Proverbs 3:7 tells us it is to “fear the Lord and turn away from evil.” Simply put, we must hear and heed God’s word. The verses preceding Proverbs 3:5-8 teach this. Proverbs 3:1-4 exhorts us, “My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments…”
Only God’s word can deliver us from “being wise in our own eyes.” Apart from God’s self-revelation in the Bible we would be hopelessly enslaved by our own sin and self-deception. Apart from “God-breathed” Scripture, our only option would be to “lean on our own understanding.” I wonder, do we appreciate how great a gift God gave when he gave us his Word? Only in the Bible do we discover who God is, who we are, and the way of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus. Ultimately, it is our response to God’s word that reveals whether we are or aren’t “wise in our own eyes.” It is our response to God’s word that reveals whether we will, or won’t, fear God and turn away from evil.
Proverbs 3:8 speaks to the blessing received by those who trust and fear the Lord. Fearing God and turning away from evil brings “healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.” In regard to this world, God’s promise is this—all things being equal, those who fear him live healthier, more fruitful lives than those who don’t. In regard to eternity, no qualifier exists! On the day of Christ’s return, those who trust and fear God will experience absolute physical, emotional, and spiritual healing in the new heaven and earth! God himself “will wipe away every tear from our eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4).
How foolish it is to be” wise in our own eyes” when God has so graciously offers us his own wisdom in Christ and his written word.