STOOPED TO THE RELIGION OF SELF-HOOD

„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.