FOOL'S GOLD LOOKS GOOD ONLY TO FOOLS

December 6, 2017

FOOL'S GOLD LOOKS GOOD ONLY TO FOOLS

Proverbs 28:18–28

Amy Tubbesing

Central Truth

God wants better for you than you do. He has proven Himself worthy of our trust, but our selfishness and pride often blind us to what is truly best. Trusting in yourself will lead you down a path of despair; trusting in Him will lead you to peace.

Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool,
but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.
(Proverbs 28:26)

18 Whoever walks in integrity will be delivered,
    but he who is crooked in his ways will suddenly fall.
19 Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread,
    but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.
20 A faithful man will abound with blessings,
    but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.
21 To show partiality is not good,
    but for a piece of bread a man will do wrong.
22 A stingy man^{1

28:22
Hebrew A man whose eye is evil} hastens after wealth
    and does not know that poverty will come upon him.
23 Whoever rebukes a man will afterward find more favor
    than he who flatters with his tongue.
24 Whoever robs his father or his mother
    and says, “That is no transgression,”
    is a companion to a man who destroys.
25 A greedy man stirs up strife,
    but the one who trusts in the LORD will be enriched.
26 Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool,
    but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.
27 Whoever gives to the poor will not want,
    but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse.
28 When the wicked rise, people hide themselves,
    but when they perish, the righteous increase.

Footnotes

[1] 28:22 Hebrew A man whose eye is evil

For me, the holidays have always been a time to show off my kitchen and party-hosting skills (so many exciting dishes!). But then there's the butternut-squash-soup incident. I was too prideful to heed the wisdom of my mom and uncle when they told me the mixture was too hot for the blender. So I turned the blender on, and BAM! Glass, boiling soup, and screams filled the kitchen. I'm not sure what hurt worse—my ego or the second degree burn on my arm.

If only this were just a one-time incident in my life when I insisted on trusting my own way. I've come to realize, sometimes painfully, that God's way is truly the better way. He has mercifully and graciously proven His faithfulness to me over the years, pursuing and saving me from my own destruction. His Word isn't a book for me to thumb through when I've finished all the shows on my DVR. The Bible is actually His wisdom, His instructions and love poured out for us to know Him more intimately and to know that He is good. "[His] word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." (Psalm 119:105)

The world offers so many opinions, oftentimes wrapped in shiny, sparkly sentiments that sound and look like real gold. I've tasted a lot of what the world has to offer, and while it was sweet for a moment, I always found myself in despair and darkness soon after. But by learning to walk in His truth, seeking to live for His glory, my heart doesn't long for the pleasures of the world anymore. Now I am quicker to notice when my pride and independence rear their ugly heads.

That's not to say I never jump to conclusions, fight to go my own way, or struggle with impatience. A daily dependence on prayer and encouragement from trustworthy friends in Christ have deepened my desire to seek His wisdom in faith. I have found trusting and "boasting" (Jeremiah 9:23-24) in the Lord give me everlasting and fulfilling peace and faith.

1. When making decisions, big or small, do you tend to go with your gut and what you want, or do you go to God's Word and a community of faithful Christ-followers for direction?

2. In what areas of your life are you prone to try to figure things out on your own instead of seeking biblical counsel?

3. Do you trust that God's ways are better and He's got your back even when the world says to go another way?