Dan’s Bible Fellowship Class

Proverbs 28:26"  "He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but whoever walks wisely will be delivered."

So often as I read Proverbs I see many of the verses as full of wonderful wisdom but often disconnected to one another.  This is not like the Gospels where there is a story to tell.  As I read Proverbs 28 the second time through this morning my eyes became fixated on verse 26.

A man who trusts in his own heart is a fool.

So does this mean I’m not to trust my instincts?  Does it mean I’m not to trust my emotions?  Does it mean I’m not to trust my brain (or my thoughtfulness or reasoning)?

The margin notes directed me to Proverbs 3:5:  “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.  (vs. 6) In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your path.”

If the Holy Spirit indwells me, then why shouldn’t I trust my heart?  Isn’t the Holy Spirit molding every inch of me?  Isn’t the Holy Spirit molding me into the man God desires me to be?  

Proverbs 28:25 says, “He who has a proud heart stirs up strife, but he who trusts in the Lord will be prospered.”  Pride is an emotion that often times leads to poor decisions.

My heart is where my emotion emanates from.  Thinking about the discipline of having a daily quiet time:  Sometimes I want to (desire to) sometimes I don’t.  Sometimes I “feel”  like it, sometimes I don’t.  It’s kind of like walking for exercise in the morning.  If I rely on my “feelings” which derive from my heart, most mornings I would not walk.  I’m making the decision to exercise or not based upon how I feel, based upon emotion, based upon how my heart speaks.  I’m making (and must decide daily) the decision to have a Quiet Time based not upon how I feel, but because God told me to seek Him out early in the morning.

God says to me….if you trust “in your heart”  you are a fool.  Instead, trust in Me.  I went back to some of the other verses in Proverbs 28 and see God repeatedly saying trust in Me.
e.g. vs. 7;  “Whoever keeps the law is a discerning son, but a companion of gluttons shames his father.”

Vs. 8:  “One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.”

God is saying to me decide what you will do or not do based not upon the emotions (feelings) of the moment.  Instead trust in Me, seek out my guidance, and follow what I’ve told you to do, even when you don’t feel like it.  My emotions will not always guide me perfectly, but God’s law will always keep me straight.  There’s a great feeling of confidence in knowing that if I follow what God says, even if I don’t understand it, He has already promised to prosper me.

Thank you Lord!