Don’t consider yourself to be wise; fear the LORD and turn away from evil.    Proverbs 3:7 HCSB

So that we can read this verse in context, I will read the two verses that go before it, Proverbs 3:5-6. These verses say, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding. Acknowledge Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths.”

The question we need to ask ourselves is, are we smart or are we wise? Many people believe being smart is the same as being wise, and in my observations, this is simply not true. It’s possible to be smart and wise, but not everyone is blessed with being both.

Smart is when we are very knowledgeable on one or more subjects. When someone is really good at math or science, we may consider them to be very smart. We consider people who have the intelligence to get through certain studies, such as medical school or law school, to be very smart.

Also, there are different kinds of wisdom. There is being smart in certain subjects and knowing many things; many call that book smart. Then there is common sense. Many people are very smart but lack common sense and tend to do things that may make no sense whatsoever to others. And then there is God-given wisdom.

I don’t consider myself to be very smart in many subjects. I am terrible at math, for example. I like to think I have some common sense, but this doesn’t stop me from sometimes making stupid decisions. I pray continually for God-given wisdom.

I cling to the promise given us in James 1:5-6, which says, “Now if any of you lack wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.”

When we have God-given wisdom, He will give us the intelligence we need to do what He has called us to do. When we acknowledge God in everything we do, He guides us in the way we should go.

I’m not super strong, but God gives me strength to do what He has called me to do (Philippians 4:13). I know when I am going through the really hard stuff to just keep going and doing what He has called me to do, and it will all work out for my good and His glory (Romans 8:28). And we don’t have to be super smart, because God will give us wisdom.

Of course, the flip side to this is rejecting God’s strength and wisdom and doing it our way. No good comes from that, as Paul tells us in Romans 1:21-22, when he said, “For though they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became nonsense, and their senseless minds were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools.”

My friend, if you are relying on your own intelligence to get through life and to fight spiritual battles, you are setting yourself up for failure. Lean on God and trust in Him. Pray daily for strength and wisdom. And whatever you do, don’t ever consider yourself to be wise. No matter how smart you think you are, God is way smarter.

He knows what your future holds, and He will guide you if you will only let Him.

So, if you think you are really smart, stop and ask yourself if you are truly wise? Do you have that wisdom that God freely gives? All we have to do is ask, and He will generously give us wisdom without criticizing us.

This leaves us without excuse.

Have a great day!