Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester,OK

“Human Mega-Bytes”
"There's something here also for seasoned men and women, still a thing or two for the experienced to learn." – Proverbs 1:5 (The Message).

Welcome to the computer age! If you are reading this message then you no doubt are a part of the world of modern technology! I will be the first to admit that there is a great deal about computers that I do not know. I can turn it on, check my email, use a variety of programs—but beyond that my knowledge and expertise must take a back seat to others who are far more capable than I.
Even though I am no computer whiz or expert I have discovered first hand what happens when you try to store more information than what the computer's hard drive can handle. It won't take it! Should you ever arrive at that point you do have a few options available to you. First, delete unnecessary programs or files. Pictures are a good place to start because they tend to take up a lot of disk space. (For some of us, deleting files is easier said than done.) Second, you can upgrade the computer's memory. That can often be not only time consuming but also very expensive and in the end it might not be enough to provide you with the additional space you need. Third, store some of your information on a disk. “Flash Drives” are a very useful tool and can store a hefty amount of information. On the negative side, what do you do should the disk mess up or happens to go through the wash? I would not recommend that you not wash a flash drive. It will literally “clean out” your information! (And yes, I did learn this first hand!) Finally, you can, buy a new computer with more memory! No matter how you look at it...there is a limit as to how much can be stored in a computer's mind!
I said all that to say this…that even though a computer is a great tool, it is obvious that they do have their limits. That is not the case with the human memory chip! In fact, this verse tells us that there is no end or limit to what we can know or learn. Even the wisest of humans will never reach their full potential! All have much to learn and gain from God’s wisdom!
What I have learned is to be careful never to assume that I have the answer to every situation. I might have an opinion, and there will be times when previous experiences will give me a better understanding, but in truth, I need to allow the Holy Spirit to guide me to do (and or say) what is right. My wisdom is limited, but God's is not!
How "wise" do you believe yourself to be? There are two extremes to consider here: First, you can underestimate your capabilities! Don't! Wisdom and genius are two completely different things. You have the ability to learn and grow. If wisdom were beyond our reach or only for an elite set of people then the book of Proverbs would not exist. Second, You have the ability to still learn. Never be arrogant enough to believe that you have reached your "intellectual" peak. Which is why we must trust ourselves to grow “spiritually.” That is the true strength of wisdom.
Pastor J. T. Carnell