3/30/15

From Gary... The path from foolishness and stupidity to wisdom

Some things are self-evident. And so, when I saw the pastoral scene above, I thought to myself, how unnecessary, how foolish would one have to be to label the obvious. Stupidity and foolishness are harsh words, but then again somethings in this world are. Consider...


What you love and what you hate defines you
Proverbs, Chapter 12 (WEB)

 1 Whoever loves correction loves knowledge,
but he who hates reproof is stupid.


The fool
Psalms, Chapter 53 (WEB)
 1  The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.”

The beginning of knowledge is...
Proverbs, Chapter 1 (WEB) 

7 The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge;
but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.


The desire of the heart...
Ecclesiastes, Chapter 7 (WEB)
19 Wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.  20 Surely there is not a righteous man on earth, who does good and doesn’t sin.  21 Also don’t take heed to all words that are spoken, lest you hear your servant curse you;  22 for often your own heart knows that you yourself have likewise cursed others.  23 All this have I proved in wisdom. I said, “I will be wise”; but it was far from me.  24 That which is, is far off and exceedingly deep. Who can find it out?  25 I turned around, and my heart sought to know and to search out, and to seek wisdom and the scheme of things, and to know that wickedness is stupidity, and that foolishness is madness. 

Even Christians can act foolishly
Galatians, Chapter 3 (WEB)
  1 Foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you not to obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was openly portrayed among you as crucified?  2 I just want to learn this from you. Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by hearing of faith?  3 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now completed in the flesh?  4 Did you suffer so many things in vain, if it is indeed in vain? 5 He therefore who supplies the Spirit to you, and works miracles among you, does he do it by the works of the law, or by hearing of faith?  6 Even as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness.”  7 Know therefore that those who are of faith, the same are children of Abraham.
We once were...
Titus, Chapter 3 (WEB)
 1 Remind them to be in subjection to rulers and to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work,  2 to speak evil of no one, not to be contentious, to be gentle, showing all humility toward all men.  3 For we were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.  4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love toward mankind appeared,  5 not by works of righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly, through Jesus Christ our Savior; 7 that, being justified by his grace, we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life


Even the most intelligent, educated and just plain savvy people I have known occasionally have said and done foolish or stupid things. To me, this is a truism. But, there is hope: we all can achieve some degree of wisdom if we are willing to genuinely seek it out;for true wisdom comes from God.  I urge you- consider the verses that you see above, and ask yourself the following: Am I seeking out God on my terms or HIS and why?