Proverbs 3:5-6 Leaning not on my own understanding

[u/CivilDiscussionary]

Proverbs 3:5-6 is is one of the principle/basic/first verse(s) I memorized in one of the Navigators' Bible studies. But now that I contemplate it, in a rigid, literal fashion, am I to abandon my own understanding?

I later earned a bachelor's degree. If I had to abandon my own understanding, would I have earned a single course credit? Or a single lecture? Surely God doesn't want me to abandon my own understanding?

I realize my question might sound awfully rigid/literal/childish/silly. But it is an earnest one.

Answer: use a Study Bible? The reason I grew very cautious about Study Bibles (such as the official NIV Study Bible) is that a fellow Christian (whose views I valued) told me that Study Bibles are not infallible.

Thank you for your answers.

[u/Just_Sir1903]

So, study Bibles are great tools-yet they are tools. 

Lean not on your own understanding doesn't mean be mindless, rather see the world through God's teaching.

[u/Key_Rhubarb_5735]

In the context of the entire chapter, which is the only way it should be understood, we are to trust God and lean on him to gain wisdom. It doesn’t say anything about abandoning understanding. V.3 tells you how to get understanding. Proverbs 3:3 (NET Second Edition - Strong's)
3 Do not let mercy and truth leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.

Our understanding is ignorant compared to divine wisdom. He wants us to acknowledge him in the decisions we make. Another word for understanding here is wisdom. Our supposed understanding or wisdom is sometimes contrary to his truth. His wisdom is much more reliable than our own. I like the way the Orthodox Study Bible puts it Proverbs 3:5 (Orthodox Study Bible Text) 5 Trust in God with all your heart, And do not exalt your own wisdom.

[u/RandChick]

When your own thinking contradicts something spiritual, don't lean to your own way of thinking.

Otherwise, God gave you your brain and expects you to use it.

[u/Soyeong0314]

There are a number of ways that Eve's desires clouded her judgement (Genesis 3:6), so if we lean only on our own understanding of morality, then our desire clouds of judgement so we can't be sure if someone is truly good or if we just think that it is good because we desire it. When we desire to do something that that is contrary to the Law of God, when we have a choice between whether we are going to learn in our own understanding of morality by doing what is is right in our own eyes or whether we are going to trust in God with all of our heart to correctly divide between right and wrong by obeying His law in all of our ways and He will make our way straight (Proverbs 3:1-7), which is the choice between the Tree of Knowledge and the Tree of Life (Proverbs 3:16-18).

[u/elwoodowd]

Almost like one of those riddles, or puzzles, referred to in chapter 1:5,6.

If you are serious about following the patterns and trails through Proverbs, youll want a literal bible. One that holds true to the hebrew concepts of thought.

Knowledge, insight, discernment, thinking ability, and understanding, are tools, that chapter 1 promises to teach. Some bibles are inconsistant in teaching these, mixing terms, and using them out of order

Wisdom then might be given. Chapter 4

[u/Emb3rz]

Leaning on your own understanding is contrasted with trusting in Almighty God. In all your ways take notice of Him. So instead of relying on your fallible understanding or reasoning, you have to seek His guidance and when you discern what He wants for you, you have to do that thing. This complements the other various scriptures that tell you to sharpen your understanding with scripture and prayer and spirit. There's a scripture that says to offer a sacrifice of your powers of reason. Which is to say you subject yourself to Godly thinking instead of fleshly thinking and align your mind with Him.

[u/andreirublov1]

You should be willing to listen to church tradition and academic expertise, and not think you can figure it all out on your own. Bible passages don't always mean just what they appear to mean.

[u/CivilDiscussionary → u/andreirublov1]

That sounds like it might be the Roman Catholic view that tradition is at least as high in importance as (or higher than) Scripture.

[u/restbiblestudy]

This post is an example why you shouldn’t lean on your own (mis)understanding. You’re reading Scripture through a straw and taking verses out of context. Finish the sentence.

“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 straight your paths.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭ESV‬‬

The verse is about trusting Him always even when you think He’s not helping. Acknowledge Him because He can set you on the right path