Proverbs 19:3
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The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the LORD.
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Men have trouble in life due to their own foolishness, but then they blame God for it! What profane wickedness! He will not live by God's wisdom, for he wants to do things his way. But when he meets the consequences of his foolish choices, he murmurs and blames God for the difficulties. What a miserable, rebellious, ungrateful wretch!
The LORD is good to all, and His mercy is over all. He offers wisdom freely to all who want her (9:1-6; Is 45:19). But fools laugh at wisdom; they think they have a better way. But they shall eat the fruit of their folly (1:29-33). The miscreant in our proverb accuses God that His ways are not equal. But it is the fool's ways that are not equal (Ezek 18:25)!
Dear reader, has this proverb ever been true in your life? Have you chosen your own way and met with pain and snares? Have you ever thought the Lord was unfair? Have you ever resented Him for not delivering you or answering your prayers? Have you had discontented, vexing, or self-righteous thoughts before the LORD?
Notice carefully that it is the heart of the fool that frets, your inner thoughts, so your pious speech in the church does not cover for it! How have you thought in your heart, where the rest of us cannot see? The Lord sees your fretting.
Such fretting is sin! Nothing that you are or have is yours. It is a gift from heaven. God gave you your station in life, abilities, parents, health, children, job, spouse, time, and anything else you can name. Why do you chafe against Him about these gifts? These things are not yours; they are His. He loaned them to you, and He expects a good return on them. You owe Him! He owes you nothing but the eternal torment of your soul. Anything less than that is pure mercy!
But when you fret against Him after perverting His gifts through slothfulness and foolishness, your murmuring thoughts are the rebellious poison of hell seeping out of your heart! You add wickedness to your sins. Crush those wicked thoughts. Humble yourself before God. Find your joy and contentment in Him, rather than the gifts he gives. Confess your folly that lead to your predicament.
Adam brought himself shame in Eden, and he blamed God for it (Gen 3:11-12). Cain was cursed for killing his brother, and he blamed God for his punishment being too great (Gen 4:13-14). Ahab found himself at war for the vicious murder of Naboth for his vineyard, and he blamed God for not ever blessing him (I Kings 22:8). Where are these three men today? Where they belong! Where will you be tomorrow?
Most of the problems you have are your own fault. You neglected to keep God's Word faithfully. You foolishly chose your own way. Your zeal for following wisdom was lukewarm. Can't you see that? Confess your foolish stewardship in taking care of what He has given you. If you do not, your pain is going to increase (Job 36:16-18)!
Where are you being foolish in your life? It will come back to haunt you. And if you blame God for the trouble, you add greater sin to your folly. No wonder your life is a mess. The Bible says, "This is the way, walk ye in it" (Is 30:21). But you have rejected instruction and wisdom, because you had a better idea, because the pastor is too extreme, because the Bible is too old fashioned, because your daddy didn't do it that way. Beware!
God is not mocked, and do not be deceived about it. If you choose to compromise His Word in your marriage, family, thoughts, speech, or any area of life, you are going to reap painful consequences (Gal 6:7). His ways are equal; your ways are unequal! And if you add fretting to your sin, He will come with even great judgment and fury.
If there were ever a man Who could have fretted against His lot in life, it would have been our blessed Lord. But when facing the most arduous and horrifying task of His difficult life - to pay for our wickedness - He said, "Nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done" (Luke 22:42). He never perverted His way, but had to pay for us perverting it. And He still didn't fret! Praise the blessed and perfect Son of God!
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