Proverbs 26:12. Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
Obviously God wants us to be wise, the whole book of Proverbs proves this. But God doesn’t want us to ever be wise in our own eyes, i.e., proud. God wants us to fear him, humbly listening to him, and loving what he loves.
Because of original sin, we are all born wise in our own eyes. Ironically, we are all born thinking we are wise when we’re not at all. This pride is the common self-deception that we all share. I’m right. I’m in control. That won’t happen to me. I can stop anytime I want. I know what to do. I don’t need help. I’m good. Somebody else needs that more than I do. I don’t have that problem. I deserve this. It’s not actually affecting me that much.
Should I go on?
The problem is, left to our own devices, we all become more and more proud over time. We become wiser and wiser in our own eyes. We see less and less of our own faults and failures. We endear ourselves to ourselves. We become more impressed with ourselves the longer we live. All while at the same time the people around us become less and less impressive to us. Almost every older person I know wants zero help from others, even as they become more and more helpless with each passing year. How rare is it to find someone middle aged or older that welcomes advice, help, and accountability? Very, I’d say.
Think about the last conflict or argument you were involved in. Did you assume that you were right and the other person was wrong? Of course you did. That’s why it became a conflict. You were wise in your own eyes. This kind of pride is so strong and pervasive that the Apostle Paul has to tell us, “NEVER be wise in your own eyes” (Rom. 12:16).
The Spirit of Wisdom (the Holy Spirit) living in us is the cure for this prideful form of wisdom. He is constantly but slowly replacing our foolish pride with the wisdom of Christ. The wisdom of love. The wisdom of grace. The wisdom of self-sacrifice. The wisdom of humility.
Wise in your own eyes says, I earned this. The Spirit of Wisdom says, I received this from God.
Wise in your own eyes says, I don’t need others. The Spirit of Wisdom says, I need help from others.
Wise in your own eyes says, I’m strong when I’m strong. The Spirit of Wisdom says, I’m strong when I’m weak.
Wise in your own eyes says, I have to maintain control. The Spirit of Wisdom says, I need to give up control.
Wise in your own eyes says, I can explain that. The Spirit of Wisdom says, I can admit that.
Christ in you is your new source of wisdom. A wisdom that allows you to be a fool, admitting you don’t know much, that you fail more than you succeed, and that you need all the grace you can get. Which is all of God’s grace in Christ.
You: Are you wise in your own eyes?
You in Christ: How does our union with Christ cure us of pride and self-importance. Can you see yourself growing in humility or in pride?
Christ in you: Can you name a specific situation you are facing where you need to embrace the “foolish” wisdom of the cross?
Pray: Father, your Spirit of Wisdom is upside down. May I live this upside down life by faith in Jesus who was a fool for me. Amen.
To Live is Christ 