Proverbs 3:5 (CB)

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.

IDENTIFY YOUR IDOLS. Proverbs chapter 3 lists six things that can serve as the marks of a wise person and at the same time are the means for growing in wisdom. The first is trust in the Lord. You can believe in God yet still trust something else for your real significance and happiness—which is therefore your real God. We hide how we do this from ourselves, and it is only when something goes wrong with, say, your career or your family, that you realize it is much more important to you than the Lord himself. What does this have to do with wisdom? Everything. There are excessive emotions surrounding things you make the functional trust of your heart, whether it’s your career, wealth, spouse, children, or some romantic relationship. You will be inordinately shaken, anxious, angry, or despondent if anything threatens them. They cloud your judgment, distort your vision of yourself and the world. Idolatries of the heart lead to foolishness in the life. The ultimate remedy for idolatry is the gospel. We won’t need to justify ourselves by works—by success or romance or achievement—if we are freely justified by faith in Jesus (Ro 3:21–24). What is the best candidate in your life for an alternate “god”?

Prayer: Lord, when the Israelites prayed to you for help you did not respond, but when they “put away their idols,” you began work in their lives (Judges 10:10–18). I too have run to you with my requests without the willingness to root out my deep, false gods. O Lord, “help me find my All in Thee” and in nothing else. Amen.