Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
To be not wise in one's own eyes is to not lean to one's own understanding, to not walk by the light of one's own eyes and the wisdom of one's own heart, but to trust in the Lord with all the heart, to acknowledge Him in all ways, and to leave oneself to be guided by Him, with the promise that He will direct the paths. Even when human counsel is absent, God is not taken away but remains to guide and lead those who trust Him and trust His guiding hand to lead. The verse teaches wholesome humility, for human intellect is not all-powerful, and without God's help human strength and wisdom are weakness and ignorance, a dependence that is revealed through studying God's Word. It therefore calls for learning meekness and lowliness rather than self-exaltation and conceited trust in one's own wisdom as sufficient.
Fearing the Lord and departing from evil means keeping reverence for God before oneself, following and heeding His counsel, and turning away from evil, with the fear of God, truth, righteousness, and wisdom as the straightforward course. One's own judgment must not be treated as the highest and sufficient guide, especially in spiritual matters, and trusting in one's own wisdom shows failure to revere God's word. Choosing one's own wisdom over God's way and pridefully insisting on one's own plans simply to have one's own way regardless of consequences is a rejection of God. Such a desire to follow one's own wisdom rather than God's way was expressed when amusements effaced the impressions of instruction upon students.
Fearing the Lord and turning from evil require humility and willingness to receive instruction, and past guidance from God does not make a person unteachable. Self-reliance and pride can deceive people into rejecting instruction. The verse warns against trusting one's own judgment, wisdom, righteousness, and good works, including self-imposed religious practices treated as a way to earn salvation. True godliness does not come from such self-made means but from relying on Christ and turning from evil, rather than depending on one's own merits for salvation. Relying on Christ and living in true godliness brings health to the body and strength to the soul. Living by this trust instead of self-reliance also enables a person placed where great influence for good can be exerted to give a family the help it needs and act as an uplifter to the whole family.
To be not wise in one's own eyes is to not lean to one's own understanding, to not walk by the light of one's own eyes and the wisdom of one's own heart, but to trust in the Lord with all the heart, to acknowledge Him in all ways, and to leave oneself to be guided by Him, with the promise that He will direct the paths. Even when human counsel is absent, God is not taken away but remains to guide and lead those who trust Him and trust His guiding hand to lead. The verse teaches wholesome humility, for human intellect is not all-powerful, and without God's help human strength and wisdom are weakness and ignorance, a dependence that is revealed through studying God's Word. It therefore calls for learning meekness and lowliness rather than self-exaltation and conceited trust in one's own wisdom as sufficient.
Fearing the Lord and departing from evil means keeping reverence for God before oneself, following and heeding His counsel, and turning away from evil, with the fear of God, truth, righteousness, and wisdom as the straightforward course. One's own judgment must not be treated as the highest and sufficient guide, especially in spiritual matters, and trusting in one's own wisdom shows failure to revere God's word. Choosing one's own wisdom over God's way and pridefully insisting on one's own plans simply to have one's own way regardless of consequences is a rejection of God. Such a desire to follow one's own wisdom rather than God's way was expressed when amusements effaced the impressions of instruction upon students.
Fearing the Lord and turning from evil require humility and willingness to receive instruction, and past guidance from God does not make a person unteachable. Self-reliance and pride can deceive people into rejecting instruction. The verse warns against trusting one's own judgment, wisdom, righteousness, and good works, including self-imposed religious practices treated as a way to earn salvation. True godliness does not come from such self-made means but from relying on Christ and turning from evil, rather than depending on one's own merits for salvation. Relying on Christ and living in true godliness brings health to the body and strength to the soul. Living by this trust instead of self-reliance also enables a person placed where great influence for good can be exerted to give a family the help it needs and act as an uplifter to the whole family.