Don't Be Impressed

My wife and I frequently have disagreements. Not argument or fights, but just disagreements about who is right. I often tell her, “I thought I made a mistake once, but I was mistaken.” Joyce usually responds by saying, your not always right Jeff! My attitude at work is, it is only a mistake if someone else knows about it. If I can fix my mistake before someone else is aware, well than it is if it never happened. In Proverbs chapter 3, Solomon tells his son to trust in the Lord. In verse 5 Solomon tells his son to trust the Lord instead of his own understanding, and in verse 7 he says, don't be impressed with your own knowledge.

Proverbs 3:7 NLT Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil. 

Those who are wise in their own eyes do not fear or trust the Lord. Instead, they think all they need is found within themselves. To be wise in your own eyes means you think, you have it all figured out. You do not listen to advice of others, and you tend to live by the saying “it’s my way or the highway.” Society as a whole believes that it is a good thing to be fully self reliant. I must say that I pride myself in the fact that I pay my own bills, that I am able to meet all my own needs. I have a home that is warm, my kitchen cabinets and my stomach is full. I have gas in my vehicles and for the most part if I need something I just go buy it. I am self-reliant and self-sufficient, I don't need anyone's help. I believe that I have life figured out, But God is not impressed.

Proverbs 28:26 ESV Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered. 

Solomon continues by saying it is better to trust the Lord instead of your own understanding. This does not mean we're to act recklessly or without thought. The point is that our intellect, our wisdom is nothing compared to that of God, the one who created us. Human wisdom falls far below God's wisdom. It is infinitely better trust the Lord, and turn your back on evil, your own understanding, than it is to follow, your own ideas. Job did not understand why he was suffering so greatly, but he was convinced that the Lord knew what he was doing. He acknowledged that his only responsibility was to trust in God.

Job 28:28 ESV Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.

Don't be impressed with your own knowledge and abilities. We need to see ourselves as we are, flawed and imperfect. This requires humility, we must realize that we are not as smart as we think we are and recognize that everything we have is from God.

John 1: 1-3 ESV In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 

God gives wisdom through His Word and through His discipline. “Do not be wise in your own eyes” is not just a rule of etiquette or a personal improvement tip; it is a principle of godliness designed for your own good. Your not as smart as you think you are and believe me God is not impressed with your knowledge, so “Don't Be Impressed with yourself!”