Proverbs 21.1
“Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart.”
This proverb fits in directly with our theme this week of the primacy of the heart. We are a great blessing to others when our heart is guided by the hand of God. However, when our heart is crooked and turned away (haphak) from God, we make bad decisions and cause trouble for ourselves and for others.
Don’t believe everything you think. Having an opinion is not the same as having credibility.
The great challenge that we all face is arrogance. The battle is that we tend to be over-confident in our opinions. We think we are right, even when we aren’t. The fight against arrogance is no trivial battle. Proverbs communicates the message repeatedly to make sure we get the message:
“Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord; be assured, he will not go unpunished.” (Proverbs 16.5)
“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16.18)
“Before destruction a man’s heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.” (Proverbs 18.12)
“When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.” (Proverbs 11.2)
The question that confronts every person is: Who rules in your heart? Have you made Jesus the Lord of your life, or is your life directed by self and personal preference? The English word “autonomy” comes from two Greek words: autos, which means “self” + nomos, which means “law.” Autonomy can be a good thing or a bad thing. In a good sense, it describes a person with self-discipline who aligns their life with God’s standards. In a bad sense, it describes an arrogant person who rejects the Lord’s standards and is a law unto himself.
Arrogance promotes self and fuels a defiance that rejects God’s standards and resists constructive criticism. Arrogance of heart produces negative autonomy … the false belief that God either isn’t there, or he doesn’t matter. It’s the arrogant belief that truth and morality are determined autonomously by personal preference or popular opinion, not by God’s objective principles. Arrogance of heart is deeply deceptive, and it blinds people to the truth. Here is what the Lord said to the nation of Edom through the prophet Obadiah:
“Behold, I will make you small among the nations; you shall be utterly despised. The arrogance of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rock, in your lofty dwelling, who say in your heart, “Who will bring me down to the ground?” Though you soar aloft like the eagle, though your nest is set among the stars, from there I will bring you down, declares the Lord.” (Obadiah 1:2-4)
This is a prophetic message to any nation (or person) who arrogantly rejects God’s principles and standards. The Lord explicitly says “the arrogance of your heart has deceived you.”
Humility is an essential topic, and we will continue next week.
“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8)
