The Proud "Wise"

For Monday, October 15, 2007
Proverbs 26:12

Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.

There very sign of wisdom is knowing how little one knows. A person cannot attain wisdom until he recognizes how small he is in the universe. Thus, there are many persons with high IQs and with great knowledge, but are as fools. They mistake their actually small amount of knowledge for wisdom.

There is more hope for fools because some fools do know they are lacking in mental ability and through discipline can be trained to curb their folly. But the person wise in his own eyes cannot receive correction. He doesn't believe he needs it. The idea is repugnant to him. It is not intelligence that keeps him from correction, and certainly now wisdom. The wise person seeks knowledge and correction. It is pride that prevents him from receiving humbly needed correction. And pride is the most difficult barrier to break down, far more difficult than folly.

Remember this. However much people may protest that intellectual honesty keeps them from acknowledging God and his truth; the ultimate problem is pride. Until a person is willing to bow the knee before a Being who has absolute authority over him, he cannot attain wisdom. Until he is willing to acknowledge his utter dependence upon another for forgivness and removal of sin, he cannot exercise wisdom. He may have a measure of discernment that compares favorable with the rest of mankind. God does give a measure of truth through general revelation. But without the humility to receive the truth of the gospel, that very measure of discernment will keep the individual from acknowledging the Truth. He will think he is on the right path, when he is as far away as the most foolish fool.

"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..." (Proverbs 3:5-7a).