Wise in your own Eyes

I remember taking a course in Literature while in my undergraduate studies.  Other than one elderly gentleman, the entire class consisted of students in their sophomore year of college.   

The elderly gentleman had a long history of studying literature; therefore unlike the rest of us, took the course as an elective. 

Though he was very respectful, it wasn’t long before the entire class became very irritated with him.  As soon as the instructor began teaching her lecture, the gentleman would interrupt and attempt to give his version of the lesson.   

For the rest of us students, it appeared he was waiting for opportunities to correct the instructor.  Often, he went off on tangents that were entirely irrelevant to the material presented.    

When the instructor finally politely confronted him and discouraged further interruptions, he dropped the course shortly after.    

While studying select portions of the NT, I realized Jesus often dealt with the same type of audiance.  They, too, considered themselves experts of the holy scriptures.  They didn’t care so much about listening to what he had to say as much as they cared to trap him in saying something wrong.  

Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk….(Matt. 22:15)

Because they were so busy focused on finding fault, they missed the greatest sermons ever told.  

While the rest of the audience went home full, they left home empty. The words he spoke had no effect on their lives.  

Sadly, the same type of attitudes are still adopted by some in the pews today. They are very selective whom they give their attention too. Rather than focusing on the message itself, they focus their attention on finding fault. Thus they totally miss God’s personal message for them. The spoken words have no benefit to them.

The Bible warns, there is a danger when one becomes too wise in his own eyes. 

 

 Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him” (Proverbs 26:12).