“Restraint is not a sign of oppression but is a sign of the revelation of God.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – September 14, 2024
Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed are those who heed wisdom’s instruction. Proverbs 29:18, NIV
We live in an age in which the virtues of freedom and liberty have been taken to great extremes. Now, freedom is not simply the opposite of bondage; it is taken to mean liberation from any form of self-restraint or societal restriction. “If I want it, it must be good, and it would be wrong to tell myself no.” In many ways, this single sentence sums up the wisdom of our modern world.
The book of Proverbs invites us to consider a more ancient way.
In Proverbs 29, restraint is not a sign of oppression but is a sign of the revelation of God. As it says in Proverbs 16:25, “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.” In so many ways, “being true to yourself” appears to be right, like a path that will only lead to more joy and happiness in your life. Yet, according to Scripture, this is not liberty but is, perhaps ironically, nothing less than bondage and slavery.
Jesus Christ, who is the Wisdom of God, reveals to us the way we should go. He invites us to walk a path of humility, self-denial, and sacrificial love for the sake of others. Is this a way of restraint? Absolutely, yet it says “no” to our distorted and misplaced desires so that we can learn to be truly free, liberated to walk in his path of abundant life.
Our hearts are filled with desires that feel “core” to who we are. Growth in our walk with the Lord is seen, at least in part, when we are able to realize that parts of our “core self” need to be reformed and transformed by the mercy and grace of God. Just because something is deeply felt or passionately desired does not mean it is of God or for our good. We must learn to walk in the light of God’s revelation, and when his way is out of step with our way, wisdom teaches us to be skeptical of our discernment. If something is wrong with the path we’re on, let’s assume the problem rests with us, not him.
Trust today in God’s perfect love for his creation, and for you and me. Learn to see him as a loving Father who delights in giving good gifts to his children (Matthew 7:11). As we do, when we walk in his ways and embrace the gift of self-restraint, we can trust that his ways are not only higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9), but they are better than anything we can imagine or desire for ourselves.
Prayer
Father, give us the strength and courage to embrace the gift of restraint, saying “no” to our distorted desires so we can be free to say “yes” to the abundance of your kingdom, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Application
What does it look like for you to embrace restraint in this season of life?
Related Reading
Proverbs 21:23; Galatians 5:22-23; James 1:19
Worship Resource
Crowder: Good God Almighty
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