Proverbs 3:7. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
Wise in your own eyes. The original sin. Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit hoping it would make them wise. And it did. But not wise in the fear of the Lord. Rather they became wise in their own eyes.
This self-deception has been plaguing mankind ever since that day in the Garden. It is the core sin of every heart. The inner lawyer that defends our every decision and justifies every act. The problem is that living this life of self-justification promises a life of false freedom. Our self-generated wisdom, following our hearts, being our true selves, is not proving to be freedom but bondage. We can never live up to the standard our own pride sets for ourselves. As a result, we project our guilt onto others. Other individuals or other groups. All without mercy, kindness, or grace.
Are you wise in your own eyes? Do you listen to others, or are you argumentative? Teachable, or a know-it-all? What about internally? Has your inner guilt and shame caused you to become defensive and thus judgmental without mercy? Like Adam, have you been projecting your shame onto your “Eve”? Your spouse? Your kids? Your boss? Your parents? Your pastor? “Those people?”
Solomon begs us to turn away from this great evil. But how?
Look to your union with the cross of Christ. Only the cross has the power to crush the serpent head of pride. How? First, by crushing your inflated ego. God HAD to die for you. Not the death of a hero, but the death of a criminal. A rebel. Your guilt is real. Your evil is undeniable. The cross declares just how wicked you really are, and how incapable of salvation you are on your own. So for God’s sake (literally) be humble.
Second, the cross forgives you and transforms you. God DID die for you. Such love elevates the humble. It places all of us on the same level before God. No pride necessary. No self-righteous projections online. No performing or proving. No self-loathing. No penance. You can fire the inner lawyer.
To live is Christ means looking at the cross and leaving “wise in your own eyes” on the ground where it belongs. Crushed by the heal of the Savior. When we look at the cross and see just how loved we really are, then we know that we don’t have to prove anything to ourselves or God.
You: In what ways have you been wise in your own eyes?
You in Christ: How can you let your union with the cross of Christ both humble you and raise you up again?
Christ in you: In what relationships do you need to project the humility of Christ rather than your own defensive pride?
Pray: Father, my inner lawyer has been working overtime lately. Humble me by the cross of Christ then raise me up to him by your mercy and grace. Amen.
To Live is Christ 