Be not wise in your own eyes, fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. – Proverbs 3:7
Solomon was straightforward in his instruction to his son: “Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him” (Proverbs 26:12). Though a man may have success in this world, the one who is a know-it-all may be a stubbornly unteachable person, especially in the ways of the Lord. A thimble-full of knowledge is all that he could ever have compared to the Creator God, about whose world humans learn new things every day.
Proverbs 3:5 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” Today’s verse reinforces it with three admonitions: 1) don’t think too highly of yourself, 2) fear the Lord, and 3) turn away from evil. The first includes an ethical dimension – seek the good of others rather than gratifying yourself. The conceited person may be so blinded in his judgment that his evaluation of good and evil is the exact opposite of God’s truth and perspective, causing those around him to suffer.
The answer is to fear, or reverence, the Lord – stand in awe of His greatness, His attributes, and His love for you. David expressed this thought when he said, “When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers… what is man that you are mindful of him?” (Psalm 8:3-4). Inseparable from your worship of the Lord is your intentional turning away from evil – the last admonition of today’s verse. Together they present the sum of goodness and godliness. Pray that the people of this nation, including those in government, would return to these principles.
Today’s Verse: Proverbs 3:7
Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: Proverbs 2:1-7
My son, if you receive my words
and treasure up my commandments with you,
2 making your ear attentive to wisdom
and inclining your heart to understanding;
3 yes, if you call out for insight
and raise your voice for understanding,
4 if you seek it like silver
and search for it as for hidden treasures,
5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord
and find the knowledge of God.
6 For the Lord gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;
7 he stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
he is a shield to those who walk in integrity,
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
