Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlesterr, OK

“Becoming Idiot-Proof!”
“Listen, you idiots—learn good sense! You blockheads—shape up!” – Proverbs 8:5 (MSG)

If I could choose the one word that would best describe the individual that simply, “just doesn’t get it” when it comes to knowing the right thing to do—it would be this one: IDIOT!!
According to definition, an idiot can describe two types of people: First, it defines one who because of mental limitation they cannot learn beyond or above a certain level. I almost hesitate even mentioning this as a definition because I would never consider these individuals as anything less than courageous.
The second person, the one for which I think the word best applies describes the individual who is more than mentally capable of learning and growing in both cognitive and rational thought but does nothing to enhance their learning and chooses to live their life in a very self-destructive manner. In fact, the word could stand for: I Deliberately Ignore Obvious Truths!
People do Dumb things!! In fact, I have come to the point that I am no longer amazed at how dumb and idiotic people can be!! Here are a couple of examples:
The first takes us to my hometown of Colorado Springs! A guy walked into a little corner store with a shot gun and demanded all the cash from the cash drawer. After the cashier put the cash in a bag, the robber saw a bottle of scotch that he wanted behind the counter on the shelf. He told the cashier to put it in the bag as well, but he refused and said "Because I don't believe you are over 21." The robber said he was, but the clerk still refused to give it to him because he didn't believe him. At this point the robber took his driver's license out of his wallet and gave it to the clerk. The clerk looked it over, and agreed that the man was in fact over 21 and he put the scotch in the bag. The robber then ran from the store with his loot. The cashier promptly called the police and gave the name and address of the robber that he got off the license. They arrested the robber two hours later.
Second, a motorist was unknowingly caught in an automated speed trap that measured his speed using radar and photographed his car. He later received in the mail a ticket for $40 and a photo of his car. Instead of payment, he sent the police department a photograph of $40. Several days later, he received a letter from the police that contained another picture... of handcuffs. The motorist promptly sent the money for the fine. And then this one: In Virginia, a janitor went to great lengths to avoid I.D. in a 7-Eleven robbery, using a ski mask and rental car for the occasion. But he also wore his work uniform, which said "Cedar Woods Apartments" and had his name, Dwayne, stitched across the front.
These are some pretty obvious examples and to be perfectly honest would never apply to us…right? There is not a single person reading this message that would ever consider being in a position like these above…would you?
And yet…how many times do we find ourselves in a position or situations where we totally and completely leave common sense, rationality, and most importantly, Godly wisdom out of the picture? At that point, every one of us could easily fall under this category and it is for that reason that Solomon says…”listen up you idiots…there is a better way!”
I know that I am not perfect and I have made my share of idiotic mistakes. And yet, the difference between the “idiot” and the mistake-prone human is that those who seek to live out God’s Will learn from their mistakes and choose to make the efforts to prevent those mistakes in the future.
Don’t ignore “Obvious” truths. Listen and follow the voice of Wisdom.
Pastor J. T. Carnell