Trusting In Self 

Scripture Reading: Hosea 10:12-15.

Memory Verse: "Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil." Proverbs 3:7.

Weekly Reading: Proverbs 19:18-21:31.

Introduction: It was shown in the last lesson that trusting in God in the manner prescribed by scripture would benefit the soul and body. Conversely, Proverbs has much to say about what happens to those that trust in themselves, or trust in other men. Basing your life on what you understand can be disastrous. In fact, it leads to utter destruction and death. It is hard to relate to the consequences of foolish and careless living until the day we actually reap the results. Because judgment is delayed, the seeds we plant today are often cast into the sands of time haphazardly. The children of the world live for the moment. The children of God should be living for the future.
  Stop. Think. Why are you alive? What is your real purpose? What is this life all about? If we could consistently alter our outlook in this life, it would change us entirely. We really can't see the forest for the trees. One of the reasons we've been seated in heavenly places in Christ is to give us the same perspective on this life that He has. If we had His perspective, we'd realize that trusting Him is a matter of faith. We can accept the Lord for our salvation, which requires trusting Him and receiving Him by faith, but that is only the beginning of placing our trust in Him. That is only the start of our journey to the narrow gate of eternal life. A man can read the Bible, pray, and offer worship to the Lord, but in his heart not really trust the Lord. Don't misunderstand. We should read our Bibles, pray, and worship the Lord. But the center of the issue is that these things in themselves will not guarantee our success. Lucifer himself believes in the Lord. But he failed to place his trust in God. That was his undoing. He trusted in himself, and puffed himself up in pride. If we could reduce every sin imaginable, both of omission and commission, to its real root cause, we would find it was a failure to trust in the Lord. That is why Paul writes ". . .for whatsoever is not of faith is sin." (Rom. 14:23). No wonder Proverbs says to acknowledge Him in all our ways and 2 Corinthians 10:5 instructs us to bring every thought into the obedience of Christ." What does this mean? We must trust the Lord.

Questions For Study:

1. Why is it dangerous to lean on our own understanding? Prov. 14:12; Prov. 16:25.

2. What things characterize the man who trusts in himself? Prov. 28:26; Prov. 26:12; Prov. 18:2; Prov. 19:3.

3. What message do we need to consider to be different than a man who trusts in himself? Prov. 16:3,20; Prov. 18:10.

4. Read Isaiah 5:18-24. What does Isaiah say will be the end result of living a life of unbelief and trusting in yourself?

5. What happened to Moab because he trusted in his works instead of God? Jeremiah 48:4,7,8.

6. What judgment did Zephaniah predict for not trusting in the Lord? Zephaniah 3:2,5,6.

7. Contrast the man who trusts in the Lord to one who doesn't. Jeremiah 17:5-8.