A Journey Toward Wisdom - Pt. 5

 

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, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. (Proverbs 3:4-6 ESV).

 

Today our journey towards wisdom takes us to one of the most memorized and quoted verses in the Old Testament. I often hear people in difficult times simply say, “I’m leaning into the Lord.” I know that’s a reference to our reading today; however, it’s only half of the equation. Solomon is telling us that the way of wisdom is to trust in the Lord with all out heart and not lean on our own understanding. It takes both of these exercises in our life if we are to manage to turn away from evil and be healed at the very core of our lives.

 

An illustration that has been helpful to me through the years comes from my driving experience in dense fog, especially at night. Believe me when I say that no matter how long I have driven in such conditions I still think that using my “high beams” will somehow be better. It never is, but my desire to see what’s ahead of me overcomes the experience and wisdom of the past. It only takes a moment to recognize my error and switch back to low beams, but I still want to control more of my journey. The truth is that even the low beams are too reflective off the fog. The safest measure is to slow down and use the most minimal of light shining at the are just in front of the car.

 

The psalmist knows this well. He writes: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105 ESV). The Lord has given us plenty of light for our feet. We have more than enough knowledge to take a step and I am called to trust Him for further steps as I need to take them. Truthfully, God simply did not create us with high beams. We don’t need them and aren’t equipped with them. What appears to be more light from our understanding is merely a deception from our enemy. Wisdom demands that we trust the Lord, not ourselves.