Don't Trust Your Gut

Introduction

Proverbs 16:25 “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, But the end thereof are the ways of death.”

This proverbs lets us know that we often have a sense of what we are supposed to do, and when we follow our own ways it leads to destruction. This proverbs is repeated here and originally is written in chapter 14.

Proverbs 14:12 “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, But the end thereof are the ways of death.”

Often times we are told by people to follow our heart. But in Jeremiah the prophet tells us why this is a fallible statement:

Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”

Let’s examine some truths tonight in other passages that compliment this thought in Proverbs 16:25:

God’s Way is Superior to Our Own

Isaiah 55:8–9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, Neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are my ways higher than your ways, And my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Introduction to Point 1:

Man naturally leans on his own reasoning, but God’s Word calls us higher.

What “seems right” (Prov. 16:25) must always be tested by what God says.

A. “I Think”

Our opinions can be faulty.

Ask: Where did that thought come from?

If it comes from God’s Word, it isn’t really “I think” but “God says.”

Proverbs 3:5–6 — “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

B. “I Believe”

Beliefs must be tested by Scripture.

Many “sincerely held beliefs” are still sincerely wrong if they don’t align with God’s truth.

Acts 17:11 — the Bereans searched the Scriptures daily “whether those things were so.”

C. “You Should”

Every “should” is a judgment statement.

The question is: Is it based on human reasoning or divine authority?

Wrong “should”: “You should live together before marriage.” → Test with 1 Corinthians 6:18 “Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.”

Right “should”: “You should not curse.” → Test with Ephesians 4:29 “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.”

God’s ways settle the difference — one is false counsel, one is true counsel.

Closing Application of Point 1:

Every thought, belief, and judgment must be filtered through the Word of God.

Why? Because His ways are higher, His thoughts are higher, His truth is final.

God’s View is Clearer than Our Own

1 Samuel 16:7 “But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.”

Expanded Teaching:

Samuel saw Eliab’s physique and assumed he must be God’s choice. He judged by outward appearance.

But God rejected Eliab and chose David — a young shepherd who outwardly looked unqualified, but inwardly had a heart after God.

God’s divine perspective penetrates deeper than ours. He sees motives, character, and heart — not just appearances.

Application to Us:

The same principle applies in our lives: our viewpoint on life, morals, standards, or choices often misses God’s bigger plan.

Proverbs 16:25 reminds us: if we rely on our own view, it will lead us astray.

God gave us His Word so that we can see life through His lens — and adopt His perspective as our own.

Probing Questions:

What truly guides your moral compass?

On what basis do you make life decisions?

What filter do you use to expose the flaws in your own view?

Closing Challenge for Point 2:

Self-reliance is a dangerous trap.

But God’s view is always clearer, crisper, and farther than our own.

Therefore, don’t trust appearances or instincts alone — let God’s Word set the standard.

God’s Way is Perfect and Proven

Psalm 18:30 “As for God, his way is perfect: The word of the Lord is tried: He is a buckler to all those that trust in him.”

His way is superior to ours.

His view is clearer than ours.

And His way is both perfect and proven.

You will never go wrong doing things and seeing things from God’s perspective. He is right every single time, and every time we are at odds with Him, His way is superior, and His view is clearer.

Illustration – Cracker Barrel When a person has a tried and true method that is efficient and works, why would you try to do things differently?

Take Cracker Barrel for example. Recently they stirred controversy by changing their logo, removing Uncle Herschel and the barrel, and announcing plans to strip out the vintage charm that made their stores unique. Instead of the warm, nostalgic atmosphere people loved, they revealed a plain, generic brand that looked like a dozen other restaurants.

They took something tried and true — something their loyal customers cherished — and traded it for something dull, unrecognizable, and unwanted. The reaction? Disappointment and frustration.

Spiritual Parallel God’s way is perfect. His Word is proven. It is far better than even the best “scratch kitchen” recipe Cracker Barrel ever served. We don’t need to mess with it, change it, question it, doubt it, or water it down. His way and His Word are perfect and proven.

We cannot improve upon it.

Conclusion

A pastor from the southern United States shared his testimony about a season early in his Christian life when he backslid. He stopped reading the Bible and following its guidance, instead adopting worldly philosophies like self-improvement and existentialism. This led to a spiritual decline: he could do things that previously troubled him without conviction, and he suffered significant personal loss—losing his job, home, family, and friends. At one point, he was homeless, living in an abandoned shack with no food, even befriending a guard dog just to get scraps.

Despite this, he never fully gave up on God because the Holy Spirit persistently urged him to return. Recognizing his desperate state, he repented and asked God for mercy. His restoration was remarkable: God restored the years lost and brought him back into a life of ministry. He became a pastor again, working with rehab missions and homeless shelters, experiencing God’s grace in every area of his life.

Here is a man who once knew the way of the Lord but chose to go his own way. It did not go well. Yet God is in the restoration business, and this man found forgiveness and mercy. However, the consequences of our own way leave scars, pain, and destruction in the paths our decisions create.

We must not allow ourselves to live according to our own thoughts and ways, because:

His Way is Superior to Our Own

His View is Clearer than Our Own

His Way is Perfect and Proven

If we will follow God’s way, trust His view, and rely on His perfect, proven Word, we will find true life, peace, and security. The safe and right path is not the one that seems right to man—it is the path God has prepared, tested, and proven for those who trust Him.

Friends, the way that seems right to us often leads to ruin, but God’s way is perfect and proven. His view is clearer, His Word is trustworthy, and His path brings life. If you’ve been walking in your own way—making choices based on feelings, opinions, or what seems right—today is the day to turn back to God. Repent, trust His Word, and commit to following His way. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and He will guide you safely when you surrender to Him. Don’t wait—choose God’s perfect way today.

Proverbs 16:9 “A man’s heart deviseth his way: But the Lord directeth his steps.”