Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord and shun evil.
This will bring health to your body
and nourishment to your bones.
Proverbs 3:7-8 NIV
Wise In Your Own Eyes
Canada has produced some very wise people. Chief Justice Beverly McLachlin said, “Like every other human institutional endeavour, justice is an ongoing process. It is never done, never fully achieved. Each decade, each year, each month, indeed each day, brings new challenges.” Actress Catherine O’Hara said, “Even before you’ve earned it, treat yourself and your career with the level of respect that you hope to one day deserve.” Governor General David Johnston said, “The wonderful thing about this country is that we don’t shy away from debate and discussion.”
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I knew a man who had been a severe alcoholic. He came to faith in Jesus in his 40s, but the years of abusing his body had taken its toll. He died in his 60s, suffering from a number of health issues. He told me once how he wished he had come to know Jesus when he was young – he said living for Jesus through all those years he called wasted would have given him a longer and healthier life. He wasn’t the first person to notice this. King Solomon noticed this too and wrote in Proverbs 3:7-8: “Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.” God is concerned about us – and not just the spiritual part of our lives. When we live a Christ-like life, we avoid the effects of sin. Being a Christian doesn’t guarantee freedom from the physical challenges brought about by living in a sin-sick world, but living a godly life does bring health to our bodies and nourishment to our bones by avoiding the ravages of sin.
These have been words from the heart.
Bob Beasley