Making the choice between divine wisdom and human understanding …

Many Christians don’t openly reject God’s wisdom, they just quietly prefer their own. They read the Bible, go to church, and say they trust God, but when decisions are required, feelings are hurt, or plans fall apart, they default to their own understanding. What feels right, what seems logical, what they want – that often holds more weight than what God has said.

Proverbs 3:5–6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” That is not a gentle reminder. It is a command. And yet, many who sincerely profess to follow Jesus find themselves locked in a constant battle between leaning on their own perspective and submitting to God’s wisdom. Even when they know scripture, they still trust what makes sense to them more than what God requires of them.

This isn’t a problem of information. It’s a problem of allegiance. Human wisdom is appealing because it allows people to stay emotionally comfortable. It lets them keep control, preserve pride, and avoid the humility and surrender that God’s wisdom requires. In fact, research on belief perseverance and confirmation bias confirms that people naturally trust sources — especially internal ones — that agree with what they already think or feel. This is not unique to nonbelievers. Even sincere Christians are tempted to equate what is familiar or personally affirming with what must be right.

Why human wisdom feels easier than trusting God
The Bible does not speak kindly about human understanding. Proverbs 14:12 makes the danger clear: “There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.” The danger is not just that we make mistakes, the danger is that we trust ourselves while doing it.

That deception goes all the way back to Genesis. Eve did not forget what God said, she ignored it. Genesis 3:6 says, “The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too.” God had already given His word. But Eve trusted what she saw, what she wanted, and what made sense to her. That is the exact same dynamic that drives many modern Christians to choose their opinion over God’s truth.

Isaiah 5:21 adds this sobering truth: “What sorrow for those who are wise in their own eyes and think themselves so clever.” That is not just describing atheists or rebels. It includes anyone — Christian or not— who honors their own opinion more than the wisdom of God.

James 3:15–17 draws a sharp line between earthly and godly wisdom: “For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind. But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.” God’s wisdom is not just higher, it is completely different in nature. It humbles us, refines us, and requires us to submit. That’s why it’s often resisted, even by believers.

How to repent of relying on human wisdom
If we have been treating our own judgment as more reliable than God’s wisdom, we must repent. This is not just a character flaw, it is sin. And God, in His mercy, invites us to change our thinking and turn to Him.

Proverbs 2:3–6 gives the path forward: “Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures. Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord, and you will gain knowledge of God. For the Lord grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” Wisdom from God does not come casually, it must be pursued; it must be desired more than being in control, more than being affirmed, and more than having our opinions validated.

James 1:22 calls for this repentance to be active: “But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.” Listening without obedience is not discipleship, it’s self-deception. If we want to walk in God’s wisdom, we have to surrender to it, even if it feels costly or confusing.

Psalm 111:10 says, “Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom. All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom. Praise him forever!” The fear of the Lord is not fear of punishment, it is reverence that produces submission. Until we fear the Lord rightly, we will always fear other things more — like discomfort, disapproval, or failure.

No one grows in wisdom by accident. It requires war against the flesh and full trust in the God who cannot lie. When we confess that our thinking is not better, and His Word is not optional, we begin to walk in something far stronger than cleverness. We walk in the wisdom that leads to life.

Scotty