Proverbs 12:15 Stupid people always think they are right. Wise people listen to advice.
Stupid: Having or showing a great lack of intelligence or common sense.
Well, there you have it. Lacking intelligence and common sense are describing the majority of the human race at this time in history. Am I being a bit too harsh in my observations? Well, after a year of living through a worldwide pandemic – you tell me. What do you see as you look around? Stupid is as stupid does.
This morning at breakfast, my publisher Clay said, “Don’t stay stupid. Stop repeating the same things that keep you doing foolish things, reinforcing your stupidity.” We were dealing with our own issues and character-flaws we have to change in our lives, to become better representatives of the ministry our Lord has called us into. We have to respond to the good advice that God brings into our hearts. Prov. 12:15 Stupid people always think they are right. Wise people listen to advice.
The amount of wisdom that is needed in this world right now cannot come fast enough. People sit back, wringing their hands in disillusionment, wondering what has happened to common-sense. The wisdom of God is needed, but these same people have rejected Him. The reverence and love for God and His Word will bring the wisdom that will remove the stupefaction that has captured the minds of humanity. Prov. 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
Foolish arrogance can lead to stupid thinking. We read the story of David when he wanted to feed his men. He asked for some supplies from Nabal, a rich landowner who was benefiting because David and his men were camped in the hills near Nabal’s grazing lands. 1Sam. 25:7 I hear that you are shearing. When your shepherds were with us, we did not harass them, and nothing of theirs was missing the whole time they were in Carmel.
David had been protecting the area and the shepherds who worked there. David was kind to them and now was asking Nabal to be kind to his men.1Sam. 25:8b Therefore be favorable toward my men, since we come at a festive time. Please give your servants and your son David whatever you can find for them. Nabal’s answer was harsh and belittling. 1Sam. 25:10 Nabal asked them, “Who is David? Who is Jesse’s son? Many slaves these days are running away from their masters. Ouch! Stupid is what stupid says.
David decides to kill Nabal and orders his men to head out and deal with this arrogance. Nabal’s wife Abigail hears about the whole exchange and acts fast with wisdom. She orders the preparation and the packing of a whole lot of food, then rushes out to reach David before he runs into Nabal. Abigail meets David and reasons with him by explaining that she had not seen his men come with David’s request and that her husband’s name said everything there was to say about his character. 1Sam. 25:25 Please pay no attention, my lord, to that wicked man Nabal. He is just like his name—his name means Fool, and folly goes with him. And as for me, your servant, I did not see the men my lord sent.
David accepts her gift and intercession on dumb dumb’s behalf averting a tragedy. The sad thing is that Nabal died a stupid man. 1Sam. 25:37 But it came to pass in the morning, when the wine was gone out of Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that his heart died within him, and he became as a stone. This seems to be the choice that a lot of people make. They die in their stupidity, and full of foolishness. I am not the one calling people fools. The word of God calls them fools. Psalm 14:1a The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”
The question we have to answer is, “Are we going to stay stupid, or are we going to accept God’s saving advice?” For those who do not know the Lord, God’s counsel is to accept His Son Jesus as their saviour. For those who do have a relationship with God, through Christ, His command is to love one another and to share the gospel with all of mankind. In short. Don’t stay stupid, but rather be wise in the wisdom that God has given us by obeying what God has said to do. Blessings.
Thank you, Don.
Good observation and a good word.
Blessings to you.
" We were dealing with our own issues and character-flaws we have to change in our lives, to become better representatives of the ministry our Lord has called us into."
Despite all our efforts, we can never change what is in our hearts. The best we can do through will power and denial, is not a change, but is merely at temporary suppression of what we want to rid ourselves of.
Paul asked the rhetorical question "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?"
Our faith in the finished work of what Jesus did on the cross and maintaining that faith exclusively will open our hearts to the changing grace of the Holy Spirit.
Relying on God and not our own strength is the key to being transformed into the image of our Lord and saviour.
We were saved by grace and we grow in Christ by the same grace.
Sin is the problem and there is only one who can deal with sin in our lives and that is Jesus.
If we could, by our own efforts, rid ourselves of sin, then why did the Father send His Son to take away the sin of world?
Good one Norn. In my state of mind right now, it made me happy and even smile when after Nabal dissed David, his response was simply kill that idiot. My bad.
I think this scripture says what is going on in the whole world. This is the spirit at work.
Jug. 21:25 In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.
Unfortunately this so true in Australia the voices we hear speak foolishness. However, God's word is true, The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
Blessings Ian