“Where there is no vision the people perish.”

Inspired by God’s Wisdom for Today.

Proverbs 29:18 is one of the Bible's most misunderstood and misused verses. I have experienced it used by some church and ministry leaders to lead people astray, down a path they should not go on and no one should follow. These leaders had a vision of personal accomplishment and desire. I believed it did not match God’s vision and time proved me right. Not all visions are correct, Adolf Hitler was a man of vision and many people perished because of it. David Koresh and Jim Jones both had prophetic religious visions and once again many people perished.

The actual translation of this verse is this “Where there is no revelation, the people cast off all restraint.” This is very true. The one minister I worked for, once he had an idea, there was no stopping him, no restraining him, from seeing it fulfilled and that usually meant hanging the cost. The revelation in this verse refers to God’s prophetic revelation. God’s revelation should lead us, not our selfish desires, which are sometimes disguised as a vision from God. God is very capable of revealing Himself. He can tell us His will and His vision for our lives. His laws and precepts should be our road map for our lives, and tell us what direction to follow.

For leaders, ministers, and authorities in the church, God’s will, and His revelation should always determine how the people in their care are to be led, shepherded as it were. If they do not lead according to God’s word, then there is the danger that those following will cast off all restraint.

We are all sinners, fallen human beings, and we are all capable of doing evil things in the sight of God. Our pride and greed can get the best of us. If we are leaders, and ministers, and have poor vision, we can lead others astray, whether they are friends, family, or church members. We all need to know that our vision is from God, and then we can lead others according to God’s will.

Proverbs 29: 18-27

18 Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint;
    but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.

19 Servants cannot be corrected by mere words;
    though they understand, they will not respond.

20 Do you see someone who speaks in haste?
    There is more hope for a fool than for them.

21 A servant pampered from youth
    will turn out to be insolent.

22 An angry person stirs up conflict,
    and a hot-tempered person commits many sins.

23 Pride brings a person low,
    but the lowly in spirit gain honor.

24 The accomplices of thieves are their own enemies;
    they are put under oath and dare not testify.

25 Fear of man will prove to be a snare,
    but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.

26 Many seek an audience with a ruler,
    but it is from the Lord that one gets justice.

27 The righteous detest the dishonest;
    the wicked detest the upright.