Wise Guy or Humility

DEVOTION

PROVERBS

WISE GUY OR HUMILITY

Prov 26:12

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

NIV

Humility is the key word missing in this saying, yet it is the whole of the message. Who likes a know-it-all? There are phrases which point to this man who is wise in his own eyes. When we hear them say, “The point of the matter is” or “Let me tell you” or “The truth of it is”, we know we are encountering a person wise in their own eyes. Certainly there are people who have a far greater knowledge of things than we do. Surely there is no reason to ever think more highly of ourselves then we should.

Rom 12:3-4

3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.

NIV

God continues through Paul to give us the picture of one body, each having it particular function which benefits the body as a whole, which in the case of the body of Christ, he is the head. Yet we might be tempted to consider some parts more important. We should not think our part is. But there are those who have the idea the more education or knowledge that has been gained in the standard of the world are better equipped to explain the truth of God. That may be a form of looking wise in their own eyes. We cannot ever think we know more than anyone else otherwise we may run the risk of closing off new insights into the word of God. True, we have formed our faith based on our own reading and understanding, being led by the Spirit into all truth, just as every believer is able to do. However, there are people who have insights we may have not considered and that just might be the Spirit inspiring them to express that insight to others. Surely we would have to think the local Pastor spends a great deal of time listening to the Spirit in preparation for his sermons. But we do need to be aware of the know-it-all, including any preacher who thinks he has the only handle on the truth. This might be the ultimate cause of denominationalism. Someone thinking they have a better understanding then the church they attend and go off to form a whole new church with different views. This too might apply to all who attend a certain denominational church, thinking we have the right insight, and those others are off base on their beliefs. If we think like that, we might just be thinking ourselves wise in our own eyes. Yes, there are some major differences. But still we are not to think more highly of ourselves than we should. Who is to say, we are right and they are wrong? Maybe they are right and we are wrong? But with so many difference we would have to conclude some are not being led by the Spirit, for he brings all into the unity of the faith.

2 Chron 30:12

12 Also in Judah the hand of God was on the people to give them unity of mind to carry out what the king and his officials had ordered, following the word of the LORD.

NIV

It is the hand of God which brings unity of mind, it is the people who separate themselves from unity, thinking themselves wise in their own eyes. So then someone is not listening to the Spirit. We are admonished to make every effort to have unity.

Eph 4:1-6

4:1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit— just as you were called to one hope when you were called— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

NIV

Humility is the key here, we cannot think prideful of ourselves at all, for we are but sinners saved by grace, being led by the Spirit to live a life worthy of our calling. Let us live according to the measure of faith God has given to us, but do it in humility.