Our past has changed, because, in God’s eyes, we have no past, only a great future. In Jeremiah 29:11, He says: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

There is a story in the Bible that speaks of Solomon, a young man who, after God offered him anything his heart desired, he requested wisdom. The Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary defines wisdom as “knowledge, and the capacity to make due use of it.”

Common wisdom would say, give them what they deserve. But not God’s wisdom. True wisdom is the revelation of God, about Himself. Jesus said that He is the way, the truth, and the life (John 16:4).

The Bible says in Proverbs 4:6-7, “Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.”

Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes. Like cutting off one’s feet or drinking violence is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool. Like a lame man’s legs that hang limp is a proverb in the mouth of a fool. Like tying a stone in a sling is the giving of honor to a fool.

But foolishness is not opposed to any precept. Therefore, foolishness is not a sin. But contrary to this: Proverbs 1:32 says, “The prosperity of fools will destroy them.” But no one is destroyed except by sin. Therefore, foolishness is a sin.

The word Raca is original to the Greek manuscript; however, it is not a Greek word. The most common view is that it is a reference to the Aramaic word reka, which literally means “empty one”, but probably meant “empty headed,” or “foolish.” Scholars seem divided on how grievous an insult it was.

Foolish people are self-involved, overly optimistic regarding their own views, and unable to see their own vulnerabilities. They assume they already know all that needs to be known. Foolish individuals are apathetic—indifferent to outgroups, ethical concerns, and the common good. They are unimaginative and dogmatic.

Foolish people are silly or senseless, and when you do something foolish, it’s clearly unwise or irrational. Foolish is a 14th century word that comes from fool, a person who’s unwise. The Latin root, follis, means “bellows” or “leather bag.” The “silly person” meaning comes from the figurative idea of a “windbag.”

There is more hope for a fool than for him. Proverbs 26:12.

In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes. Judges 21:25. This is a fascinating verse in the book of Judges.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NASB): Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.

The reason for that prohibition is simple: “Every way of man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the hearts.” (Proverbs 21:2). The Lord judges what is right and what is wrong. We don’t. So we should not be doing what is right in our own eyes.

In today’s New Testament passage, Paul writes to the Thessalonians, ‘Never tire of doing what is right’ (2 Thessalonians 3:13). Jesus did not go for the easy or popular solution, but he always did the right thing. This is an important principle that runs throughout the entire Bible.

1 Corinthians 14:33 – “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.”

A Way That Seemeth Right was a title taken from Proverbs 14:12, which says, “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Young Gauge McLane wonders through the back roads of San Reno after surviving a massacre in a small south of the border church.

Proverbs 14:12: There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. There is a way that seems right, but it leads to death.

Proverbs is probably the oldest extant document of the Hebrew wisdom movement, of which King Solomon… The earliest collection (25:1–29:27), titled “proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied,” came into being about 700 bc; the latest (1:1–9:18) dates from the 4th century bc.

“When a man’s ways are pleasing to the Lord, his enemies cease to be apparent. If my thoughts are pleasing to the Lord, I will not have to worry about my ways. If I mortify the thoughts of the carnal mind, God says I shall live.” This is when God becomes Lord of the mind.

Proverbs 16:7 Meaning of Causes Their Enemies to Make Peace with Them. “When the Lord takes pleasure in anyone’s way, he causes their enemies to make peace with them.”

In Psalm 110:1 the picture of the enemies as the king’s ‘footstool’ points to the king’s dominance and control, and the enemies humiliation. Other Pharaohs were portrayed with their feet on their enemies’ heads. The footstool thus became a symbol for dominion.”

On the one hand, the Bible tells us that God has great plans for us (Jeremiah 29:11). He has a purpose for us (Ephesians 2:10) that he will see to completion (Philippians 1:6). Don’t take this post as advice to not pursue dreams, or to assume you are less-than in the grand scheme.

It is not wrong to make plans for our future. Our personal plans must always be subservient to God’s will.

Jeremiah 29:10 says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” God has perfect strategic foresight. We can, at best, achieve imperfect strategic foresight or, at worst, thoughtless hindsight.