Faith's Foe
Scripture Reading: Proverbs 3:5-8
There are good reasons Proverbs 3:5-6 are some people’s favorite Bible verses. The promise of God’s guidance is wonderfully encouraging. In the Bible, there are “conditional” and “unconditional” promises. Conditional meaning there is some requirement that must be met for the promise to be fulfilled. Unconditional meaning God fulfills the promise and there are not conditions we have to meet. This particular promise is conditional. The condition we must meet is faith. We must “trust in the Lord with all our heart,” and “lean not on our own understanding.”
Those are not two different things. They are saying the same thing in two different ways. To lean on our own understanding is to not trust in the Lord. To trust in the Lord is to not lean on our own understanding. They both are ways of saying “have faith in God.” And that is the condition to be met for God to “direct our paths.”
The thing that can and will derail the experience of God’s guidance is self-reliance and pride. This is why the text goes on to say, “Be not wise in your own eyes” (verse 7). The foe of faith is self-reliance that is rooted in pride. Self-reliance is faith in yourself. Pride is a turning away from God’s wisdom and a turning inward to your own understanding. It is resting your weight (leaning on) your own thoughts.
Keep this promise as a favorite. But don’t let it become a mere greeting card slogan. Realize the battle you face to see this worked out in your life. We all have a foe to face. There is an enemy that battles against belief. It is the pride of self-reliance. It is looking at ourselves and believing we are wise enough to set our own path and go our own way.
Fight the foe against faith. Pursue trust in the Lord. And he will direct your paths. That is a promise.