“Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life, but he who rejects reproof leads others astray.” (Proverbs 10:17 ESV)
The dictionary defines STUPID in this manner:
not intelligent
having or showing a lack of ability to learn and understand things
not sensible or logical
not able to think normally because you are drunk, tired, etc.
There are other ways to define it. I’ll try using different, normal day to day examples to, hopefully get this point across; that is, it is STUPID to ignore reproof, or correction. AND, it’s DOUBLY STUPID to get mad at the person who is only trying to help.
In other words, it’s not intelligent, it shows a lack of ability to understand things, it’s not sensible or logical, to get mad when someone tells you that you are going the wrong direction.
Yep. Just one word for that kind of behavior.
STUPID!
For instance, if you’re driving down the highway and suddenly see a road sign you didn’t expect to see. You thought you were traveling west. For three hours you thought you were traveling west. But the sign finally brings a startling revelation – you’re going east!
You understand, in this example, that the sign was posted to help you, not offend you. And because you aren’t stupid, you don’t stop the car, get out, and start screaming at the sign “QUIT JUDGING ME! YOU DON’T KNOW EVERYTHING!”
No, you’re not stupid, so you say something like “shucks”, turn around, and try and make up time (in a ‘non-stupid’ manner, of course).
You have “heeded instruction”. You are now headed the right direction. Yay!
“For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life.” (Proverbs 6:23 ESV)
Guess what? God isn’t stupid, either. That’s why he said reproof is a normal part of life.
Another example.
One year I decided I would fix myself some baked beans. Yum! So I got myself a big can of pork and beans, threw in some mustard and catsup, heated them up for a while, and plopped a big spoonful on my plate.
I was anticipating something beyond wonderful! Yes! And that’s exactly what I got! Beyond wonderful. THEY WERE AWFUL!
I wasn’t using any lamp, instruction, OR RECIPE. I’d watched people fix them before, but apparently I hadn’t paid the greatest amount of attention. AWFUL!
My wife mentioned to me later, as I related my tale to her, that I had forgotten the brown sugar.
And because I’m not stupid, I didn’t yell at her for judging me or my beans. Really, I’m not stupid! No, I listened and learned.
While working in a foundry, years ago, I was trying to operate the overhead crane while my partner poured iron from a huge ladle. I hadn’t had much experience up to that point and was really struggling. Actually, I was about to get one of us burned real bad.
My foreman came up behind me and took the control box from me. I must have had a certain “look” on my face because he simply said, “don’t get mad. Watch and learn.” And that’s what I did.
You’d have done the same thing! Why? Because YOU AIN’T STUPID!
I could list hundreds of examples, couldn’t I?
We don’t get offended, or start accusing someone of “judging us” when it’s about directions, recipes, or a dangerous situation. Why?
WE AIN’T STUPID!
So why is it we can get so whacked out when someone DARE explain to us we are going the wrong way spiritually?
When we are messing with things that can only destroy our spiritual life, mixing them into our lives, why do we feel we have to defend our actions and blame the “recipe” for judging us?
Well, either we really ARE stupid, or it’s because there’s a devil, an unseen adversary, who doesn’t give two hoots in hell whether we go east or west: he just doesn’t want us to go right or up!
The devil isn’t concerned about our baked beans, or fried squash, for that matter. He only wants to keep us from the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.
As for getting burned, hey, that’s something HE’S going to experience! And he’s looking for company. You and I.
So the next time someone says to you, “excuse me, but you’re wrong. And here’s how to get to where you really want to go…” don’t get mad, or bent out of shape, and play the “judging card.”
“But they didn’t tell me in love…”
So what! Like someone said, “drive over to Lowes, buy a ladder, AND GET OVER IT!”
Don’t give the devil any more room to steal, kill, and destroy in your life.
And DON’T BE STUPID!
Jan Grace 