“Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.” Proverbs 28:26
Devotional Thought For The Day
There is a dilemma we face with this passage. We process everything through our minds, so how is it that we are not to trust in our mind? But there is a contrast in this proverb that enables us to grasp the meaning and opens the door to true wisdom. The contrast is trusting in our own mind when this opposes wisdom. However, this leads to the question as to where “wisdom” is to be found. Here again, God’s written Word, the Bible, is quite clear and forceful, from the first few chapters of Genesis, throughout the rest of the Pentateuch [Genesis through Deuteronomy], and through all of the other 66 books. God has given His Word to us through His prophets and apostles, who wrote it down for us word for word in the books of Holy Scripture. This is where wisdom is to be found, wisdom which frequently contradicts what fallen, sinful, and fallible human minds want to think and believe. When we trust in our own minds, as Adam and Eve did in the Garden, against what the Word of God instructs, we wander into disaster and self-destruction. Virtually the entire record of Holy Scripture illustrates this reality. On the other hand, when we walk in the wisdom of God’s Word there is deliverance, life, and salvation.
So the proverb directs us to consider why it is that we have this problem, first that our thinking often conflicts with God’s Word, and second that we are strongly inclined to trust our own mind rather than God’s Word. And we also have to consider the reality that we often see how trusting our own mind and rejecting the wisdom of God’s Word brings sorrow, grief, pain, and destruction into our lives, and yet strangely we are still inclined to trust in our own mind and reject God’s Word. This is what the proverb denotes as foolishness, and the one who insists upon this, remains committed to it without repentance, is pronounced “a fool.” What we are observing is the darkness, ignorance, delusion, and spiritual death that Adam and Eve were warned about in the Garden. It began with a rejection of God’s Word, and resulted in a corruption of mind evidenced by their confusion, ignorance, and deceitfulness when God confronted them. From that time on it has been passed on to each generation who bear children in the likeness of their fallen nature, beginning with Cain and Abel. The rest of Scripture records this inexorable process of “natural born fools” coming into the world, and the consequences of this foolishness.
We are no different, in regard to how we came into this world, and our attitudes and demeanor toward the Word of God. When exposed to the Word of God, God’s law which reveals our sin and darkness [Rom. 3:20], and His invitation to repent and return to Him so that we might receive and live in the forgiveness and salvation that He has provided for us in Christ Jesus, we can be “born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which lives and abides forever” [1 Pet. 1:23], and to make sure that we understand that this is the Scriptural Word of God, Peter asserts that “this Word is the good news that was preached to you.” [1 Pet. 1:25] Our sinful nature rejects even this blessed good news and restoration of God, but by the power of God’s Word and Spirit we can be brought to faith and wisdom and “be delivered.” We are further delivered from the dark foolishness of our sinful minds by continuing in the Word of God, for Jesus promises that if we continue in His Word we will know the truth, and the truth will set us free. [John 8:31,32] But again, our sinful minds continue to oppose even the teachings and instructions of Jesus, the wisdom from God. But the promise of Jesus is that as we continue in His Word, His Word will deliver us from this darkness, especially the darkness of trusting in our own minds in opposition to His Word, His wisdom. But the argument within us continues; the darkness of our sinful nature is powerful, more powerful than we want to acknowledge. But God knows this about us, and even reveals this to us, that “the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked,” and that we can’t know the full depths of this [Jer. 17:9]. But we are not beyond God’s deliverance and salvation, for His Word is Almighty and able to accomplish His will in us.
Throughout my entire life this has been the principle struggle, and at least I have been blessed to have the Word of God constantly calling me to repentance and back to faith in Christ. And I have been blessed to have God’s Word enlightening me against the ways of my sinful nature, and revealing to me the ways of true and genuine love. My sinful nature has not abated; to this day it battles just as strenuously for me to reject the wisdom of God and to trust my own mind. Thankfully, God has not let go of me nor allowed my mind to make me an utter fool. Likewise, during the entirety of my ministry of the Word of God to dear children of God, this has been the principle cause of conflict, heartache, division, and misery – that others are no different than I in fighting against the Word and wisdom of God, their sinful flesh also insisting that they trust their own mind and reject the wisdom of God’s Word. Almost always, I can see their point and their perspective, and my own sinful nature agrees with them; but the ministry of the Word and the love of God compel unflinching conflict with all sin and darkness. It is, however, a painful and lonely way of life. Many of you have experienced the same in your love for others and your desire for their good and well-being, and your ministry of God’s Word to them. So you also know the truth of this proverb personally.
It helps to understand the reality, the dynamics that are really at work in our inner conflicts and in our struggles with others, especially within the church. It also helps to remember the consequences, what is at stake. May God continue His work in each of us, blessing us through His Word and wisdom, and may He bless others through us.
Prayer For The Day
Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for Your patience, love, and power in recalling us from the power of darkness and bringing us into the light of Your kingdom. Thank You for the victories that Your Word has had in our hearts and minds. Keep us from succumbing to the lure of sin, whether that lure comes from within or from others around us. Keep us strong so that we continue to urge and influence others to turn away from trust in themselves, and to trust solely in Your Word and wisdom. Amen.