“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.”
Proverbs 3:5 NLT
This verse is usually attributed to Solomon, believed to be speaking to his child(ren). It was not later recorded as being spoke by Jesus, who Himself does say mirroring verses comforting His followers in times when they are anxious and troubled. Nonetheless, what Solomon said is still good fatherly advice.
It’s actually more than good. It’s great advice, putting our trust in God, and God alone.
In studying this, I was less interested in the ways I’ve already seen this verse applied, to those questioning the loss of a loved one, or those who are troubled in thought.
I was more curious about how this applies to Christians studying the Bible. As Christians, we know to trust God fully. But I think far too often we put our own will and understanding into the equation along with God’s. Some may think that is what I’m doing now. I would disagree, because I’m claiming no authority for this to be a universal truth. But if by merely contemplating I risk leaning on my own understanding and mixing it with God’s will, it only makes what I’m saying more true.
I think this verse can be used as a warning for Christians against their religion inviting the elevation of human reasoning to divine authority. What happens when you begin following a religion and not practicing discipleship of Christ? I’m not claiming this warning could be against study, theology, or reason, but against confusing our conclusions about God with God Himself.
All across the spectrum of Christian denominations and those adjacent that call themselves followers of Christ, we see it. Where we take biblical text, words from Jesus, His disciples, saints, etc., and go beyond the logic and context and start speculating from the point of our own understanding.
Now, I’m not saying what the followers of these practices are doing is wrong. Again, I don’t have any authority to say that, or I too would be guilty if I said my knowledge proves I know the way. I know no other way but Jesus. So if someone disagrees with how I view this or something else, I would take the criticism without reservation and simply ask them to point to me in the Bible where I am wrong.
But as for the religions themselves, I do see this as an issue of this warning, if that’s how one is going to interpret it, being that they all have gone beyond the point of speculation and turned ideas apart from the Word into required doctrine. Because from what I’ve read, it is not dangerous in itself to speculate on the Word, but it can be very dangerous to attempt to call that speculation truth.
To go deeper, and to the VERY EXTREME, isn’t that the danger we see with the rise of Islam? Muhammad, not Christian, but took from his own understanding of Judaism and Christ’s teaching, claiming divine authority and inspiration even though it deviated from the idea of a Judeo-Christian God. This created a whole new religion and a whole new belief in the region, and now the world. Again, this point is not to equate Christian theological disagreement with Islam, but to illustrate the extreme end of what happens when religious speculation claims divine authority.
I think it highlights the dangers of going beyond what we are supposed to know, are required to know, or are supposed to be seeking.
Not to pick on the Catholic Church, but I think their 2,000-year history can take it. The idea of purgatory is required dogma, developed after hundreds of years of speculation of Scripture. Its influence usually bears claim from St. Augustine, who often philosophized on the afterlife but who himself stated he had no authority on the subject and that his idea of an intermediate state was merely speculation. But we, as humans, seek and require knowledge and demand answers. I’d argue, what does it matter where our souls go before Jesus calls us home, if we believe He will indeed call us home? That’s trusting the Lord.
Catholicism is simply a clear historical example of this human tendency, not a unique offender.
Many denominations have taken similar ideas from apostles, saints, and religious leaders who would all speak outside the Bible. Most of them saying the same thing when stating their opinion, that it was just that, speculation, and usually prefacing it if it was not taught to them directly from Jesus. Yet somehow, it still ends up in doctrines.
I feel like Proverbs 3:5 can be applied well as a warning of biblical restraint, and not constructing God from your reasoning. Receive Him as He reveals Himself. And as Christians, we can agree He reveals Himself through the Word.
Great Peace Books 