Do you see a man wise in his own eyes?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.

Proverbs 26:12

This is a scathing review by God concerning a proud man or woman! In fact, someone who is so proud that they think their wisdom is superior to everyone else’s is no better off than a fool. Actually a fool has more reasons for experiencing hope than this extremely proud person. And after all we’ve learned about the sad fate of fools given here in Proverbs, that is saying a lot about the person who is wise in their own eyes. 

The person being described here is someone who thinks they know everything about everything and they live for the opportunity to show anyone who will listen just how much they know. They like their own voice the best and are bored with other voices trying to engage with them. They may have books smarts but wisdom on how to use those smarts may or may not be present. Often these folks are unteachable because they think they know everything already. So, whether it is about how to play baseball or how to build a car, there is little that you can teach them. And worst of all, this know it all rarely listens to God or admonishments from those who are trying to help them.

Sadly, for ‘this wise in their own eyes’ person, they stay stuck. Stuck in the little they actually do know about the few things they have bothered to learn. Stuck in the one area they may have some expertise because they refuse to learn something out of their comfort zone and certainly refuse to learn something from anyone with a lower IQ than themselves. Stuck in the vicious cycle of ‘Me, Myself, and I’ and they don’t even realize they are stuck and just how lonely it is in that cycle. 

Psalm 31:18

Let the lying lips be mute, which speak arrogantly against the righteous with pride and contempt.

Proverbs 16:18

Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before stumbling.

Isaiah 2:17

The pride of man will be humbled and the loftiness of men will be abased; and the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.

But God! [Best phrase ever!] Gives us a better foundation for a life well lived and to the full.

Isaiah 1:17

Learn to do good; seek justice, reprove the ruthless, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.

Titus 3:14

Our people must learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs, so that they will not be unfruitful.

James 3:13-14

Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth.