There’s a quiet danger every one of us faces— something so subtle we often don’t notice it happening. It’s the danger of trusting our own wisdom more than we trust God’s.
Proverbs 3 is one of the most beloved chapters in the Bible. Many people can quote verses such as “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart” or “In all thy ways acknowledge Him.” It is a chapter about honoring God and leaning on Him instead of leaning on ourselves.
And right in the middle of that beautiful passage, God inserts a warning: “Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.” — Proverbs 3:7 God included this command between verses about trust, direction and divine favor because the greatest obstacle to walking with God is… us. Our own hearts. Our own ideas. Our own instinct to believe we know what’s best.
We don’t often say it out loud, but many of us live day-to-day, assuming our way is the right way. We rely on experience, opinions and logic— and only after things unravel do we ask God what He thinks.
Proverbs 3:7 teaches us we cannot fully trust God while fully trusting ourselves. The phrase “Be not wise in thine own eyes” doesn’t mean we can’t think, plan or use common sense. It means we must intentionally resist the pride that whispers, “I’ve got this. I don’t need God’s help.” Pride is not always loud. Often, it shows up quietly — in our decisions, reactions and assumptions.
The rest of the verse gives the solution: “Fear the LORD, and depart from evil.” To “fear the Lord” means to take God seriously— to believe His word, honor His authority and recognize His wisdom is greater than ours. And when we take Him seriously, the natural result is we “depart from evil.” We walk away from sin. We resist temptation. We live differently because we see God differently.
What’s beautiful is how this warning fits within the whole chapter. Look at the verses surrounding it:
• Trust in the Lord with all thine heart… (v. 5)
• In all thy ways acknowledge Him… (v. 6)
• Honour the Lord with thy substance… (v. 9)
• Happy is the man that findeth wisdom… (v. 13) In other words, Proverbs 3 reminds us life works best when we depend on God for understanding. When we lean on Him, our paths become straighter, decisions clearer and hearts calmer.
Each of us can point to moments when we chose our own way and it didn’t end well. We rushed into a decision, gave in to frustration or reacted in pride. We spoke when we should have prayed. And afterward we said, “I should have trusted God with this.”
The good news is God is still faithful even when we aren’t. He keeps guiding. He keeps calling. He offers His wisdom to anyone humble enough to ask for it. James 1:5 tells us, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God… and it shall be given him.” God never turns away a sincere heart.
Maybe today you’re facing a decision, crossroads or heavy burden. Maybe you’ve tried to fix things on your own. Maybe you feel the weight of trying to be your own guide.
Let Proverbs 3:7 be a gentle reminder: You don’t have to figure everything out. You don’t have to carry the full load. You don’t have to pretend you have all the answers. There is a God who sees farther than you, knows more than you and loves you more than you can comprehend.
So trust Him. Acknowledge Him. Fear Him. Let His wisdom lead you. Because life always goes better when we stop insisting on our way and learn to walk in His.
