I looked out our kitchen window and knew disaster awaited.
“Boys,” I yelled outside. “Aim your golf club in the opposite direction or someone’s going to break a window.”
Two of our three sons agreed. “Okay, Mom. No problem.” And yet there was one hold-out to my simple request. With all the gumption our twelve-year-old could muster, he insisted, “Mom, there’s no way my golf ball will hit the window. I know what I’m doing.”
He’d laid down the gauntlet, and after a feisty dialogue about choices and obedience, I thought it resolved. While he was convinced that there was no pending problem, I assumed he’d obey, but minutes after our exchange, I heard it! That “professional” golfer hit and shattered the very window of which I had warned him. I was livid.
“All I asked you to do was to aim your swing in the opposite direction! How difficult is that for you? It’s not. It’s simple.”
“Mom, I’m sorry. I was so sure that I wouldn’t hit the window.”
The golf ball stayed lodged in the shattered glass for over a year. Without any additional lectures needed, it served as a visual reminder, a marker of sorts. I only had to point at it, and he remembered this life lesson.
Our son didn’t set out to crack this window. His heart attitude didn’t declare, “I will purposely disobey my mom because I want to do her wrong.” Rather it stemmed from the Scripture, “Every man did that which was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25 KJV).
Our son acted on his own authority and with the belief that he knew better. Ultimately, his twelve-year-old wisdom and knowledge failed him. While my sin might not be as outwardly defiant as his, I too have done the same more often than I care to admit.
As a mom of five, I’m no stranger to Proverbs 3:7: “Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.” I admit I’m a big fan of this verse for our kids, but in turn, the Lord opened my eyes to how strategically relevant it is in today’s culture. In leadership, the workforce, politics, and even parenting books, everything screams, “My opinion is right!”
I can dismiss much of the pride and rhetoric as I hone my critical thinking skills and even learn from those I disagree with, but my heart grieves when I see people — including myself — elevate opinions above the truth of Scripture. It has me asking, Lord, are we becoming a generation so wise in our own eyes that we are missing out on Your glory by doing so?
In a potluck society where we bring to the table a few Scripture passages dished up with a side of personal opinions, it results in a smorgasbord that no longer fully aligns with God’s Word. Once considered sharper than a two-edged sword, its authority becomes dulled to a butter knife amidst compromise. We read books and topical articles about the Bible. We listen to our favorite authors and podcasters to glean what they think about certain chapters. And while there’s nothing inherently wrong with that (I sure hope not since I’m an author and a Bible teacher,) if that’s the only foundation for our faith, we will be swayed by other people’s conclusions — as smart as they could be — instead of first engaging with God and learning from Him as we read His Word.
When we spend time diving into Scripture passages, inductively studying the context of verses and making observations, He reveals new insights. I’ve heard it said, “We can’t know the will of God if we don’t know the Word of God.” Wow, I need a pouring out of grace with that one because I’m often guilty of not spending enough time with Him!
Ultimately, I’m reminded of the golf ball day, of being “wise in my own eyes.” Our son was so sure he knew better, and I’m often right there with him. He earnestly believed his actions were correct, so he chose his opinions over my trusted authority. Isn’t that often our problem?
We confuse truth and opinion when we think we know better than the Word of God, but as the Lord continues to mold us, I pray we grow in righteousness as our own sins are revealed and that we utter wisdom and truth boldly without compromise.
Our family now laughs about that golf ball exchange, but it continues to serve as my tangible reminder that true wisdom is found at the foot of the cross, not at others’ feet.
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Jen,
I was nodding in total agreement. We, too, lived out this exact same scenario and have the replacement window to prove it. Even as adults we get caught up in our own thinking and use scripture to back it up. It needs to be the other way around – scripture first and then we can add our interpretation prefaced with, “I believe…” Thank you for a healthy and convicting post that reminds me I need to be really careful before I get up on my soapbox. Let me be wise in God’s truth, not my own opinions. Great post!
Blessings,
Bev xx
Thanks Bev – Yes, that window stood cracked with the ball for more than I care to admit but was such a visual representation for my own heart.
Oh my, God has used 2 different devotions this morning. I read two each morning. But I have yet to open his word. I sleep too late, then “don’t have time.”. Thanks Jen, for this reminder, especially in this era of being all about our own opinions. I’m as self-centered as everyone else our there, trying to fix everyone on FB and in my own spaces as well. I need Jesus’s words daily. His wisdom and guidance through Holy Spirit are necessary minute by minute. I need scripture to anchor me in HIS truth, not my own!
Debbie – Isn’t the Lord so gracious when He convicts us gently? I write this because I need the reminder.
So eloquently put! Thank you for this encouragement! May we not only seek to know Him & His Word better ourselves but be the example, cheerleader, challenger to others to do the same.
Yes, Ruth….love that. To cheerlead and champion is one of my heart’s desires.
This really hit home today and so relevant for our time. Thank you!
I’m so glad, Missy. Yes, we need to reminder to go to His Word first (and I’m a chief offender. ;))
Amen!!!! A timely and truthful word!!! God bless you and you follow his leading!
Thank you so much, Lydia. xoxox
Jennifer,
God is trying to tell me something. This is the third time I’ve heard/read something like this. I feel like I’m back in Noah’s day. Everyone doing/saying what’s right in their own eyes. Our authorities aren’t helping. They just want appeasement. Let’s all get along. We need to get true wisdom from the only one who has it-Jesus. We all need to read the Bible & pray more. Now is the time for Christians to stand up, speak up & shout the true word. Let’s spread some of God’s love to this world letting them know where true wisdom comes from but also where true love is.
Blessings 🙂
Amen, Beth!! I bet it is a bit like what Noah was feeling and it’s only when we are firmly planted in His Word that we can step forward and be bold.
Thank you so much. I agree with you, true wisdom is when we submit to God, pray for guidance and then trust and obey God’s Word. It is a trick of the enemy to make us think we are wise in our own eyes.
We are sheep, we need constant help and assurance.
Amen, BEth!! Satan is surely doing his best to elevate our view of ourselves and our wisdom, isn’t he? He’s crafty.
We need that wisdom more than ever today, don’t we?
We sure do, Elizabeth and that’s why I need to continually remind myself of it.
Strong truth, Jen. I came across this quote just today, written by a secular columnist, but applicable to believers in Jesus Christ and coinciding with your thesis : “Wisdom does not consist so much in knowing what to do as in knowing what NOT to do when you are ignorant; the chief fault of the unwise is driving toward conclusions from insufficient premises”–Sydney Harris. Your son drove toward a faulty conclusion based on an insufficient premise that he could never break the window. As Christians we drive toward faulty conclusions based on insufficient premises from scripture! I don’t know if you intended to, but your post today has implications for us as voters, with such an important election approaching. We dare not drive toward a conclusion of candidate-choices with insufficient premises.
Oh yes, Nancy – Let’s shout your words loader for those in the back! And while I didn’t write it with election in mind, but more towards the influx of “Christian celebrities” and how we are quick to read their opinions first, rather than last, “being wise in our own eyes” definitely has implications across the board.