Posted by
ZSOLTAROS on Thursday, August 23, 2007 4:20:39 PM
„Trust in the Lord with all your
heart, and do not lean on your own understanding”
(Proverbs 3:5)
In
this sentence man is portrayed in two possible postures as to the realities of
life. Let us start with the second, in order to avoid a common mistake in the
interpretation of this verse. Without question, right understanding of life is
the goal set forth by the Teacher speaking to us in Proverbs. The messages in
this book appeal to our search for meaning, and the conclusions encased in
proverbial clarity show man’s ability for analytical thinking. Understanding
handed down from previous generations coupled with our own knowledge and
experiences fuel the engine of societal and personal progress. Belittling our
God-given ability and responsibility to reason would lead us to a position of
disobedience as to God’s creative purposes.
Unintelligent
living cannot be sanctified by revealed truth. The Gospel has no footing in our
soul until at least a very basic openness for truth is present. As sectors for
truth are being deleted (or filled with emotionalism) by newer waves of
postmodern un-thinking, modern man, stooped to the religion of self-hood,
cannot worship the God of Truth revealed in Christ Jesus. This is to say, the
prohibition is not against careful thinking, but against misplaced trust.
What
the Teacher is saying that, God is to be worshipped in order for human
understanding to have its rightful place. Faith and knowledge, worship of God and
human progress are joined together as expressions of wisdom. “Fools despise
wisdom and instruction…,” BUT, “the fear of the LORD is the beginning of
knowledge…” (Prov 1,7).
The
verb “trust” connotes the idea of prostrating oneself to the point of lying
helplessly face downwards. “Leaning” is to “support one self”. In other words,
this wonderful verse in Proverbs tells us, to “trust ourselves under the
protection of God we worship, instead of placing our expectations solely on our
understanding of life”. Again, the message in this verse is about the dangers
of misplaced trust and not about the fallacies of human knowledge.
Lord, we realize that
searching for truth we must find our rightful place in your presence. Help us
to learn right living as worshippers of Christ, who is the Fountain of Life
Everlasting. Thank you for the blessings of life! Amen.