Not a Good Bet

Proverbs 3:7 (KJV) Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

The New Living Translation caught my attention on this verse.

Proverbs 3:7 (NLT) Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the LORD and turn away from evil.

I got to thinking about how often we think we can handle the temptations of life and come out victorious.  I’m not talking here about the temptations we can’t avoid.  Some things are put on our plate and we have to deal with them.  In those cases we can trust God to help us find a way around or through the danger.  What I’m thinking of are those times where we get so impressed with her own wisdom and knowledge that we head straight into the storm.

I can remember going out walking in gully washers.  As a kid I would put on my poncho, don my pith helmet and boots and go for a walk in the rain.  Did I mention that I do this after dark and that much of my walking is done through the surging gutters on the side of the road and not on the sidewalk?  It was pretty stupid.  In the midst of my wisdom, I figured I was bundled up and ready to go.  I lived to not talk about it, at least around my parents.

This is a warning about that nonsense.

So?  I will admit God kind of has His eye on us and His guardian angels are working overtime to keep us out of trouble.  Don’t tempt Him to let us know how stupid we’re being.  Go for the wisdom, God’s wisdom, not ours.