I don’t’ know about you, but the last thing I want to be is a fool, to appear stupid, to be thought of as “the one” who entertains others with her cluelessness. No one wants to be put down for not knowing how to be or do something. We even try to cover up our lack of knowledge with comments such as, “I’m tired, I know better”, or “I knew that, I just wanted to know if you knew that.” These are expected comments by a clueless world to excuse our unintentional missteps and mistakes of life. But I wonder, why not be honest and just admit, “I don’t know, but I’ll find out.”
Living foolishly gets worse when it comes to intentionally lying to get by, cheating someone so you can have more, or putting someone down in an effort to lift yourself up. “God sticks His head out of heaven, looking for someone not stupid”, but expectant and ready to learn from Him. David and Solomon clearly describe the difference between people whose words and actions give life to others and those who exude poison and lead others to death!
God is looking for someone, anyone, not stupid. I know we tell our kids not to use that word, but in this writing, it seems appropriate to use this word to describe the opposite of wisdom. It is a stupid life to live unprepared and unexpectant of all God wants to be and do in our lives.
Worship and Wisdom, Psalms and Proverbs
Psalm 14, The Message
Bilious and bloated, they gas,
“God is gone.”
Their words are poison gas,
fouling the air; they poison
Rivers and skies;
thistles are their cash crop.
2 God sticks his head out of heaven.
He looks around.
He’s looking for someone not stupid—
one man, even, God-expectant,
just one God-ready woman.
3 He comes up empty. A string
of zeros. Useless, unshepherded
Sheep, taking turns pretending
to be Shepherd.
The ninety and nine
follow their fellow.
4 Don’t they know anything,
all these impostors?
Don’t they know
they can’t get away with this—
Treating people like a fast-food meal
over which they’re too busy to pray?
5-6 Night is coming for them, and nightmares,
for God takes the side of victims.
Do you think you can mess
with the dreams of the poor?
You can’t, for God
makes their dreams come true.
7 Is there anyone around to save Israel?
Yes. God is around; God turns life around.
Turned-around Jacob skips rope,
turned-around Israel sings laughter.
TRUTH: God is around; God turns life around! God can transform us! We do not have to live stupid lives. We have a choice! Are you that one man who is prepared for all God has for him and is ready to obey when He calls? Are you that one woman who lives an expectant life of faith in our God who can do anything? There is NO ONE like our God. It is stupid living, to think otherwise.
“This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike “What’s next, Papa?” God’s Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children. And we know we are going to get what’s coming to us—an unbelievable inheritance! We go through exactly what Christ goes through. If we go through the hard times with him, then we’re certainly going to go through the good times with him!” Romans 8:15-17, The Message
Be ready! Be expectant!
Proverb 10:1-14, The Message
The Wise Sayings of Solomon
An Honest Life Is Immortal
Wise son, glad father;
stupid son, sad mother.
2 Ill-gotten gain gets you nowhere;
an honest life is immortal.
3 God won’t starve an honest soul,
but he frustrates the appetites of the wicked.
4 Sloth makes you poor;
diligence brings wealth.
5 Make hay while the sun shines—that’s smart;
go fishing during harvest—that’s stupid.
6 Blessings accrue on a good and honest life,
but the mouth of the wicked is a dark cave of abuse.
7 A good and honest life is a blessed memorial;
a wicked life leaves a rotten stench.
8 A wise heart takes orders;
an empty head will come unglued.
9 Honesty lives confident and carefree,
but Shifty is sure to be exposed.
10 An evasive eye is a sign of trouble ahead,
but an open, face-to-face meeting results in peace.
11 The mouth of a good person is a deep, life-giving well,
but the mouth of the wicked is a dark cave of abuse.
12 Hatred starts fights,
but love pulls a quilt over the bickering.
13 You’ll find wisdom on the lips of a person of insight,
but the shortsighted needs a slap in the face.
14 The wise accumulate knowledge—a true treasure;
know-it-alls talk too much—a sheer waste.
WISDOM: “A good and honest life is a blessed memorial”. Honesty, diligence in work, tenacious integrity, wisdom that knows when to follow are keys to abundant living, not looking over your shoulder in fear. We discover that wisdom integrated into our lives, done well, by the power of God in us, leads to more wisdom from God.
PAUSE FOR REFLECTION AND EVALUATION
Does my demeanor match my doctrine (what I know about God)?
Does my belief match my behavior? (What is in my heart comes out in my behavior involuntarily eventually.)
Does my lifestyle reflect the love of God to Him and to people I live with and work around daily?
Do my words give life as I point people to the Giver of Life or do my words leave people in the dark, still wondering, gassed with poison and left to die?
When was the last time I asked for wisdom from God?
“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” James 1:5, NIV
Abba Father,
You are God and I am not. I need you every hour of every day. May Your Kingdom come and reign supremely in me and all around me. May YOUR will be done in every detail of my life on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day your wisdom. Be our strength and our song all day long and into the night. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who hurt us or bring us down because they know not what they are doing. Lead us not into temptations but deliver us from evil and evil’s schemes to distract us from being ready and expectant. Oh, how I love you, Lord. Transform me still. I’m not there yet. In Jesus Name, Amen
Daily Manna (Coffee with Jesus) 