Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.
Proverbs 26:12 KJV
God has a purpose and a plan for each of His children. But if we are full of conceit and worldly wisdom, we are not vessels that He can use for His honor and glory. because we’re too focused on our glory – looking good, reaping the praise of men, flaunting our abilities, etc.
I Corinthians 3:19-20 says, “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God…And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.”
If the wisdom of this world is foolishness and the thoughts of the wise are empty, where’s our glory? We have none, so we have nothing to boast about. Here’s what God wants us to do: “Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.” Romans 12:16
If we humble ourselves before God, His mighty hand will exalt us in His timing. (I Peter 5:6). Then we’ll discover that through His power we’ll be able to do great things for Him. Remember what Jesus said in John 15:5 “…without me ye can do nothing.”
Wow! There’s more hope for a fool than for a conceited individual. And the Bible tells us what God thinks of fools.
Psalm 53:1 says, “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good.”
Where will this mindset lead them?
- Fools mock sin. (Proverbs 14:9)
- Fools enjoy folly. (Proverbs 15:21)
- Fools disregard the teaching of our Savior. (Matthew 7:26-27)
“And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.” Matthew 7:26-27
And yet, God says that there is more hope for a fool than a conceited person. Does that tell us how much God abhors the vanity and egotistical attitudes of our pride?
Remember Proverbs 3:7, “Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.”