Whose View Rules?

The baseball coach shouts, “But it was a pitch in the dirt!” as the umpire says, “Strike three.”  Whose view rules?  Not the coach’s.  And unless the coach finds a way to get past it, things will only go from bad to worse.

The child screams, “Not fair!” as the parent declares, “Clean your room.”  Whose view rules?  Not the child’s.  And unless they clean their room quickly, there will be a consequence.

The scholar decides, “The Bible is a human composition, full of flexible doctrine.”  The LORD says, “Do not add or subtract to my Word.”  Whose view rules?  Not the scholar’s.  And if he doesn’t change, he will spend eternity in hell wishing he would have.

An important part of life is keeping clear perspective on whose view rules.  God gives three rapid-fire commands in one Bible treasure to help us stay on track.  “Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil (Proverbs 3:7).”

1) Do not be wise in your own eyes.  This doesn’t mean you beat yourself up and endlessly call yourself worthless.  But it does mean you make yourself small and view yourself with a dose of reality.  This heart is content to not have all the answers.  They don’t need to win every argument.  And they’re aware of their need to keep listening and learning as long as they’re alive.

2) Fear the LORD.  Be thankful that God’s view of everything trumps your own.  Life is so much better that way!  Really, it is!  Allow God to decide what is and is not sinful.  Collapse into his judgment to determine when you are and are not forgiven…for there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.  Yield to his timing.  Trust that he always knows far more than you ever will know, and reacts in line with building up his kingdom.

3) Shun evil.  It’s not enough to just say YES to faithful marriage.  You must also say NO to porn, to holding grudges, to disrespectful language and people without boundaries.  It’s not right to look at what God calls evil and say, “That’s good!”  And it’s also not right to look at what God calls good and say, “That’s evil!”  Shun evil with vigor!  Shun evil as God would shun evil!

God’s.  View.  Always. Rules.  So make yourself small, and have deep respect for the LORD’s flawless Word.  Listen to him instead of listening to fellow sinners – or even listening to your own opinions.  The one who trusts in Christ is never put to shame.

Prayer:  Dear Father, in your tender love, you have given great and precious promises to your children.  Preserve us from the doubts that assail us, from the natural arrogance that blinds us, and increase our faith.  When life puzzles or disturbs us, teach us to fix our eyes and ears on Jesus alone.  Help us to never think more highly of ourselves than we ought, but instead to adopt all of your heavenly viewpoints.  In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.