We’ve been studying how to trust Jesus in difficult situations and looking at Proverbs 3:5-6. This lesson is Trust Jesus: Lean Not On Your Own Understanding.
Last lesson we study the first line, “Trust in the Lord with your whole heart”. We found that trusting Jesus wholeheartedly is complete when we have unwavering trust. The second line in verse 5 is, lean not on your own understanding.
What does the Bible say about God’s wisdom and understanding?
James 3:13, 17-18 NIV
"Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.
Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness."
Where do we find God’s wisdom and understanding?
Psalm 111:10 NIV
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To Him belongs eternal praise."
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: Recognizing the greatness of God’s works, one should appropriately fear Him. God should be regarded with respect, reverence, and awe. This proper attitude of the creature toward the Creator is the beginning of wisdom. Wisdom cannot advance further until this starting point is established.Enduring Word
What is Psalm 111:10 saying?
- Wisdom begins with our respect and awe of who God is.
- To rely on God’s understanding, we need to be in His Word and applying it to our lives.
- We need to continually praise and honor His leading.
Psalm 2:11 NIV
"Discretion will protect you,
and understanding will guard you."
When we depend on the Lord, the Holy Spirit gives us the gift of discernment. This and His understanding protects us as we follow His direction.
Jesus is not about rules and regulations but wants to protect us. He guards us with His Love.
Proverbs 3:13 NIV
"Blessed are those who find wisdom,
those who gain understanding,"
When we rely on God’s wisdom and understanding, we are blessed. How much better than the pain of our own wisdom?
What does the Bible say about trusting your own understanding?
Proverbs 20:24 NIV
"A person’s steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone understand their own way?"
Expositor’s Bible Commentary (Abridged Edition): Old Testament. God’s control of our lives is beyond human comprehension. This proverb asks a rhetorical question regarding this topic: since the steps of a mighty person are from the Lord—how, then, can anyone discern or “understand” his way? How can we delude ourselves into thinking that we do not need the Lord when even a strong person’s activities are divinely prepared?
Psalm 118:8 NIV
"It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in humans."
We need to look at our own experiences as Christians. Who has proved their faithfulness in helping us in times of need?
Proverbs 12:2 NIV
"There is a way that seems right to a man,
but its end is the way to death."
When we are making decisions often some solutions appear to be better. As we seek Jesus’ counsel in prayer and scripture, these options are dropped because we see it in a different light.
A Biblical example of leaning on your own understanding
Let’s look at King Saul’s example.
1 Samuel 15: 1-3, 7-11 NIV
“Samuel said to Saul, ‘I am the one the Lord sent to anoint you king over his people Israel; so listen now to the message from the Lord. This is what the Lord Almighty says: I will punish the Amalekites for what they did to Israel when they waylaid them as they came up from Egypt. Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy all that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.’
Then Saul attacked the Amalekites all the way from Havilah to Shur, near the eastern border of Egypt. He took Agag king of the Amalekites alive, and all his people he totally destroyed with the sword. But Saul and the army spared Agag and the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs—everything that was good. These they were unwilling to destroy completely, but everything that was despised and weak they totally destroyed.
Then the word of the Lord came to Samuel: 'I regret that I have made Saul king, because he has turned away from me and has not carried out my instructions.' Samuel was angry, and he cried out to the Lord all that night."
The Lord had given Saul instructions on what to do. Now sometimes we don’t understand why God is doing something we don’t like. Saul did not fully follow God’s instruction because He thought His way was better.
In our own life, we can usually see instances when we either ignored God’s way or just don’t ask. Either way, we are neglecting what we know to be right.
How do you trust Jesus when you don’t understand?
Isaiah 55:9 NIV
"As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts."
Isaiah 40:28 NIV
"Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom."
It is hard sometime to accept what is happening in our life as what the Lord has allowed. We have to go back to what we know. Who is God? Do we accept that He is sovereign?
Do we remember that He is above our thinking and His way is best? The Lord promises good to His children.
This is where trust comes in, wholehearted trust. It does not come naturally; I can attest to that. We have to reach way down into our souls and trust the only true reliable God.
Proverbs 19:21 NIV
"Many are the plans in a person’s heart,
but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails."
Many ideas of what we think is good comes across our minds when making decisions. The Lord’s purpose is what will come out in the wash.
Conclusion
Romans 12:1-2 NIV
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
Many times we wonder, what’s God’s will for our life? This is trusting Jesus, leaning not on our understanding. It’s the same with any decision, everything is about God’s will.
Here are some points from this scripture:
- We are giving our life to Jesus Christ to do His will.
- We are worshiping when we do this.
- We do not need to conform to the world and its thoughts
- Transformation happens as we renew our mind in scripture and fellowship with Jesus. Then we can know His will.
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