You’re Not That Impressive

“We have met the enemy, and he is us!” That’s the famous line from the long-running Pogo comic strip.  That’s pretty much true about us, isn’t it?  We’re our own worst enemy.  And the sooner we come to grips with that, the sooner we can get on the road to a satisfying and successful experience of life.

For that very reason, King Solomon said that we shouldn’t “assume that we know it all” (Proverbs 3:7, MSG), because you know the old saying about what happens when we “assume”.  Rather, Solomon says we are to do two things:  One, we are to run to God—that’s what it means to fear the Lord, which is a recurring theme in these early chapters in Proverbs, and two, we are to run from evil—that’s a big part of what the Bible calls wisdom.

The more famous verses that go before and come after verse 7 are important to note here.  Proverbs 3:5-6 instruct us as to how we can “run to God”: We are not to rely on our own smarts—we’re not that impressive anyway—we are to make God the first, continual and final source of authority in our lives.  If we do that, God himself guarantees to direct our decisions.

When God directs the daily decisions of our life, then he also takes responsibility for the outcome.  Proverbs 3:8-10 tells us that a God-directed life will produce a body that is lean and mean with a healthy sheen (really, I’m not kidding; just read verse 8 in the Message and you’ll get the picture) and a wallet that is fat (for real, take a look at verse 10).  Not bad, huh! I think I’ll take the God-directed life over the me-directed life.  How about you?

So my friend, you’re biggest worry today is not the economy or the environment or some enemy.  It is you!  But if in things big and small you will run to God and run from evil, you will be on the way to a life of success, satisfaction and significance.

“Where there is no enemy within, the enemies outside cannot hurt you.”
~African Proverb

Your Assignment, Should You Choose To Accept It:

Practice stopping throughout the day to talk to God.  Before you make a decision, for sure, but even when you are in a quiet moment of contemplation, when you are watching a television show or listening to talk radio on the way to work, or after you have had a conversation, be sure to include God.  Ask him what he thinks, what he wants, and if he will help.