Healing and Refreshment

For Monday, August 28, 2006
Proverbs 3:7-8

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.

Verse 7 presents a good definition of humility. First, be not wise in your own eyes. This is not false humility, but a recognition of your limits. The essence of wisdom is recognizing how little you know. There are many scholars and persons of high intellect who nevertheless are fools because they overestimate their knowledge and their ability to use that knowledge wisely.

Second, fear the Lord. Acknowledge the one who is all-wise, who knows all things, and who does accomplish his will. Acknowledge him and obey him. Third, turn away from evil. The humble person knows that if he does not turn away from evil, it will draw him in and lead to his undoing. He does not trust his ability to withstand temptation.

This humble attitude leads to well-being by keeping you out of trouble, by leading you along a peaceful path often outwardly and especially inwardly. The way of the Lord is the way of abundant life.