Proverbs 26:16 Commentary and Bible Study

The spiritual sluggard, one who does not sufficiently exert himself in seeking, knocking and asking for the living God, is often characterised by a completely inappropriate level of self-confidence. It seems that in his case the rule is, the less you have, the more you think you have. How is it that the fool makes such a poor assessment of his own state, his own standing with God? It is because the habitual bias in his own favour contrary to truth has blinded him. He has told himself so often that he is wise, knowledgeable, shrewd, and righteous, that he has succeeded in deceiving himself. The intolerable thought that others exceed his capacities will not be allowed to penetrate his heart. Consequently it does not matter that there is no substance to his claims, he will assert them with confidence, for his confidence is part of his defence, though he once knew it was false.The sluggard makes false comparisons with others and considers that he is wiser than seven discreet men who know how to give a good answer to probing questions. These seven stand for any considerable number which he has no right to compare himself with. Who is he that he should evaluate himself so highly, and set himself above many others who are more worthy than he is? We find sometimes that when we speak to those who have never come to know the Lord, in their pride they insist that they know far more about the Bible than we do. Yet the truth is that they do not understand the first principles of the oracles of God. We do not argue with them when we hear this for we know that no amount of argument is ever going to convince them otherwise, and we leave it to God to teach them otherwise, though the lessons will be a terror to them.