Josh’s Thoughts

Pro 3:35 GNB
(35) Wise people will gain an honorable reputation, but stupid people will only add to their own disgrace.

I love it.

Sometimes the Bible puts stuff really plain. Wise people get honor, stupid people get disgrace.

The word “stupid” in this Scripture is translated from the Hebrew word for “fool,” and it means someone who is rash or arrogant.

Ever known anyone like that? The guy or girl who can’t keep their mouth shut about anything? They just have to tell you what they think about every single subject under the Sun, and if you try to tell them that the sky is blue when they’re convinced that it’s neon green then they’re going to find a way to prove you wrong? If you tell them that the Sun rises in the East then they’ll try to prove it rises in the West? What’s more, they’re going to stick to their guns and be stubborn no matter who it hurts–even if the person that it’s hurting is them!

Yeah…I think everyone knows a few people like that.

I had a friend once who informed me that no one was going to tell her what to do. No one. Not God, not anyone. Her life was an absolute wreck. Depression, alcohol, and lust were ruining her. But she had everything under control, of course, no God for her! She was plenty smart, but she was being a fool.

The really great news, though, is that if you’re a fool now then you can become a wise person. Of course, that’s not something that anyone can do on their own–they need a little supernatural assistance. James, the half-brother of Jesus, put it this way:

Jas 1:5-7 GNB
(5) But if any of you lack wisdom, you should pray to God, who will give it to you; because God gives generously and graciously to all.
(6) But when you pray, you must believe and not doubt at all. Whoever doubts is like a wave in the sea that is driven and blown about by the wind.
(7) If you are like that, unable to make up your mind and undecided in all you do, you must not think that you will receive anything from the Lord.

So the good news is that anyone can get wisdom by asking God. The bad news is that God expects us to use the wisdom that He gives us. We know that because James went on to say this:

Jas 3:13-18 GNB
(13) Are there any of you who are wise and understanding? You are to prove it by your good life, by your good deeds performed with humility and wisdom.
(14) But if in your heart you are jealous, bitter, and selfish, don’t sin against the truth by boasting of your wisdom.
(15) Such wisdom does not come down from heaven; it belongs to the world, it is unspiritual and demonic.
(16) Where there is jealousy and selfishness, there is also disorder and every kind of evil.
(17) But the wisdom from above is pure first of all; it is also peaceful, gentle, and friendly; it is full of compassion and produces a harvest of good deeds; it is free from prejudice and hypocrisy.
(18) And goodness is the harvest that is produced from the seeds the peacemakers plant in peace.

So basically James challenges people who think they are wise. He says that if you claim to be wise but you’re rotten on the inside then the only person that you’re fooling is yourself. God knows who you really are, and He knows that you’re in need of a good dose of God-wisdom.

Let me share with you a prayer that I pray every single day. It’s found in the Book of Isaiah, and it’s not really a prayer, but I’ve turned it into one. It’s a prophecy about Jesus, and it talks about the kind of spirit that He would have. I read it one day and thought, “If it’s good enough for Jesus then I could use a bit of it for me.” This is what it says:

Isa 11:2 MSG
(2) The life-giving Spirit of God will hover over [Jesus], the Spirit that brings wisdom and understanding, The Spirit that gives direction and builds strength, the Spirit that instills knowledge and Fear-of-God.

I challenge you to pray the same prayer every day and watch how much you change. Pray for wisdom and understanding, direction and strength, and knowledge and fear (respect) of God. Even if you’re not a Christian then you can pray this prayer. Let it be a test for you–watch and see how much you start to change. But, when you find yourself becoming more and more wise, don’t forget that it was God who answered your prayer.