I just listened to a message the other day...right after I spent time in Bible study about being wise or being foolish. Wow! This preacher gave me another word study to do...and here is the springboard.
Proverbs 14
Romans 16:18
Simple person
...a blank sheet of paper, wide open, naive, nothing written, nothing by design on them, haven't lived enough life experiences to come to proper life's conclusions, mentally roomy, available
...gullible or vulnerable, easily enticed, no boundaries, no restrictions
...unskillful in war ("We are not prepared to spiritually battle against the powers of darkness.") Ephesians 6 (spiritually immature...weak)
...lack sound decision-making abilities ("Parents, you need to let your children make their own decisions!")
...lack practical skill ("Ladies, do you have any of these Proverbs 31 qualities in your life?")
"You have to be smart enough to know how simple (stupid) you are."
We don't hear preaching like that these days! People can't take the truth when put in those terms because "it is too harsh or not loving". But yet...they "speak their minds" about every topic under the sun...often in ignorance...and expect others to listen to their unloving and unkind words and "not judge them". I am often stunned by the foolish things that are said or done...and pray that God's love, mercy, and grace will open eyes and hearts to His wonderful truth.
How do you get wise (smart)? By studying and learning from God's Word...from other Godly men and women...from things we are called to experience in this life...
"The older we get, the more marks we have written on our sheet of paper...called...life."
I understand this thought a little better...now...at 42 years of age...but my sheet of paper still has lots of room! And I daily ask for God's love, mercy, and grace to help me grow beyond my simple way of thinking to a Biblical way of thinking. He said in His Word that it will happen. Proverbs 1:5.
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