My Wisdom

Scripture:
Do not be wise in your own eyes;
    fear the Lord and shun evil.
This will bring health to your body
    and nourishment to your bones.
Proverbs 3:7-8

Observation: The first three chapters of Proverbs make a direct connection between "wisdom" and the understanding of God's will. In many ways, it echoes back to Deuteronomy, encouraging all to understand God's teachings, to think about the teachings, to etch them on your hearts, as the means to a good and fruitful life.

This verse itself provides the context of another source of wisdom - one's self. It clearly states that one should not use your own opinion to determine if you are wise, but rather to look to God and turn away from what he has shown to be evil.

Application: So many times, the daily narrative in my head says something very simple ... "What should I do next?" I am constantly considering my opinion about what I should be doing, and evaluating my actions against my opinions.

This is wrong headed.

There is only one person who I should look to for guidance in my daily activity, and that is God. The more I look to myself, the more mislead I am likely to be, as my sinful nature is likely to overwhelm my desire to follow Jesus in my daily walk. As Paul points out, "For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do - this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it." (Romans 7:19-20)

This is why I need to meditate on God's word. It is only through having his word in my heart that I can seek his guidance, and exercise his - not my - wisdom.

Prayer: Lord, I seek to follow your wisdom more and more every day. I know I fail often, and I thank you so much for the forgiveness you have provided through Jesus Christ, for without that I could not ever seek your face or be worthy of love. Every day, may I do one more thing correctly - aligned to your wisdom and your law - than I have done in the past, so I may know you better day by day. Amen.