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"Lean not on thine own understanding", Prov. 3: 5. What does this mean but do not think for yourselves ? If we didn't lean on our own understanding we wouldn't have made all the progress we have, automobiles, air travel, space flight, modern medicine, the internet. We'd all still be in the dark ages if we didn't lean on our own understanding. If we didn't lean on our own understanding we wouldn't have these computers that we all find so useful that you all apparently like to use.
"Lean not on thine own understanding", Prov. 3: 5. What does this mean but do not think for yourselves ? If we didn't lean on our own understanding we wouldn't have made all the progress we have, automobiles, air travel, space flight, modern medicine, the internet. We'd all still be in the dark ages if we didn't lean on our own understanding. If we didn't lean on our own understanding we wouldn't have these computers that we all find so useful that you all apparently like to use.
The whole Proverb is the following, and the exact English words used do depend on which translation of the Bible that you use. But basically, the meaning is the same. "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding."
If you post only half of the Proverb, as you have done, rather than posting the whole thing, and also without considering the whole Proverb and the context surrounding it, then it might cause a person to want to interpret that it means something other than that which are concerns of faith and salvation, such as you have. The Proverb has nothing to do with the material things of this world that you mention.
Please see the following site for more information.
Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” This is now the third time “heart” has been mentioned in this chapter. Head faith is not a saving faith, but a heart belief is, (Rom. 10:9-10), for it is a trust in the Lord; i.e., a dependence upon Him to save. “He guards against his recommendation of ‘good understanding’ in verse 4 being perverted into a ground for self-reliance,” [Faussett]. This is to be a total trust “with all thine heart.” Divided hearts are faulty in their faith toward God, (Hosea 10:2). Hence, David prayed for his heart to be united to fear the Lord, (Ps. 86:11-12). This, however, does not apply solely to salvation, for many heresies have been brought in because men tried to reason out doctrinal truth—leaning unto their own wisdom—instead of simply believing God’s Word in all that it says.
The whole Proverb is the following, and the exact English words used do depend on which translation of the Bible that you use. But basically, the meaning is the same. "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding."
If you post only half of the Proverb, as you have done, rather than posting the whole thing, and also without considering the whole Proverb and the context surrounding it, then it might cause a person to want to interpret that it means something other than that which are concerns of faith and salvation, such as you have. The Proverb has nothing to do with the material things of this world that you mention.
Please see the following site for more information.
Heart & mind in the bible is often interchangeable, for example, Prov. 23: 7. In fact, the Hebrew word (leb) translated heart in 3:5 can be translated as mind according to James Strong. The word nephesh translated heart in 23: 7 can also be translated as mind according to Strong. This coupled with "understanding" in 3: 5 (Heb. biynah, meaning knowledge, wisdom) shows that the context is talking about the mind, & by extension the thinking process. Trust in the Lord with all thy mind (thy thinking), & lean not on thine own understanding (knowledge). In other words, don't think for yourself, don't trust your own knowledge. This is a formula for brainwashing.
Think for yourself, don't let a single book do all your thinking for you. Question, reason, don't take anything on pure faith.
Again, that's nice! Thank you for clarification as to what your point is and revealing more as to what you are about here.
I am very well-read, and I certainly do think for myself. Thank you!
Also, I take exception to you being so assuming and presumptuous as to what I or anyone else, for that matter, needs. If you don't mind my saying, I think that you need to take a look at yourself before pointing your finger at others with your opinions.
deist,
I'm not a big fan of organized religion either but I don't go on the attack to bait others. You sound like a bittter person that needs to overcome something. Currently you're no better that the JW that go door to door trying to convert and we all know how annoying that is.
deist,
I'm not a big fan of organized religion either but I don't go on the attack to bait others. You sound like a bittter person that needs to overcome something. Currently you're no better that the JW that go door to door trying to convert and we all know how annoying that is.
You're doing the exact same thing I'm doing, trying to reason with these people. I read all your posts, & I don't see what you're doing any different from me.
Think for yourself, don't let a single book do all your thinking for you. Question, reason, don't take anything on pure faith.
You say this as if no one did use reason or question other things. There are other choices out there besides Christianity, which means there are reasons why Christans believe what they do. Just as you have reasons why you don't. Come on deist, think about it!! How is the way you came about your belief any different than mine?
The only way to find God/Truth is to seek Him out. Therefore you aren't just taking things as they are. You are seeking it, and through God you will find it. We are incapable of understanding all that is God, but He gives us what we need to know until we are of perfect mind. It is because of the Spirit that you gain true understanding of God's Word not because of your mind alone. I know this for fact. I thought I knew things before I was saved, but after I became saved and studied with the Spirit in me I found out real quick that I knew nothing. You gain an understanding that you never could have on your own. Hence "lean not on thine own understanding."
Besides this verse is about understanding spiritually. The progress you spoke of is by worldly understanding.
Deist, you have to consider that the Old Testament was was written from a mind set of almost total ignorance and illiteracy compared to the world of knowledge we have today(medicine, techonology, everything). Greeks, the pagans, had the beginnings of knowledge and education...math, philosophy, political science.....
Religious teaching is how some of the people consoled themselves, and they used GodAlmighty as a repository of all knowledge not revealed.....it is like how some people console themselves today by saying that everything happens for a reason. It is reassuring to the person to think that a benevolent force is in charge. Having a comfortable and satisfying place to rest from the suffering and demands of life.
We do have to give humankind the credit for all the discoveries and advancements that have changed the world primarily in the last 150 years. It's truly amazing!
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