Proverbs 10:8 The wise of heart will receive commands, but the babbling fool will be ruined.
Today is my very first blog post.
Today is also Star Wars Day (May 19th). How fitting.
As I sat down to write this, I became overcome with a slight, though nagging, fear. A fear that no one will read my entries, or my Bible commentary will sound childish to them, or that I'm stating the obvious and unable to draw a message or deeper insight. Shallow, pedantic. Trivial. Fear that if I look back on these entries, it will read more like my previous diary entries, leaving me cringing at every turn, and thinking that I missed all the important stuff, and was far too wordy about nothing (or just ranting).
So let me be concise.
I feared, in other words, a lack of wisdom. Does this realization make me wise? I think fools think that they are wise; only those who are not fools can see their own shortcomings. Fools are assured they are "wise", and so never lose their confidence. So this doubt, my slight hesitation, is a good sign.
The Bible talks about wisdom:
1 Timothy 4:12 Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.
Timothy was a young man, a young person much like myself, who just needed a little encouragement. Paul, an apostle and giant in the faith, gave him that. Let no one look down on me for my lack of wisdom. Sometimes I am afraid, because I am a relatively new believer (and at the same time an old believer).
Like Nicodemus, I hide behind the correct terminology, and no one would ever suspect that I just came to faith recently. (or at least, my understanding of coming to faith has changed where even though I always considered myself a Christian, now I think I hit enough of the checkpoints that most other people would too).
But, as a believer, I need to remember that my wisdom is just as valuable as anyone else's, no matter how long they've been a Christian. My thoughts matter, and my words may change someone's life. Just because I am young, or a "new" Christian, doesn't matter. I still have an infinite supply of wealth to offer the Christian world (fellow Christians), and non-Christians.
The Bible does mention, as stated in the opening verses, that it's not amount of words that make someone wise. It's probably better to remain silent than to feel forced to say something "substantive". No one is perfect, and no one can come up with something extremely deep all of the time. I'll try to do the best I can.
The wise also listen to counsel, and that's how they get wiser. Knowing that I don't know it all, I need to be willing to listen to not only new ideas but gentle correction, in all areas - those where I definitely know I need some help, and ALSO those that I already consider myself "wise". I also need to be willing to be gentle and be an encourager, like Paul, to those struggling in areas where I am more of an expert.
In summary, not having all of the answers, or not being the deepest analyst (in other words, not being a perfect person, which does not exist!) should not keep me from starting this blog or journaling my thoughts.
Take-Away Message
- Your recognizing that you're not the best at this is a good thing. It means you're already starting off in a humble enough position to learn. This is the first step in growing to become better.
- You do have valuable things to say. Young people have valuable things to say. New Christians have valuable things to say. Everyone, regardless of age or walk of life, has something valuable to offer.
- Be quick to listen and learn from others. Growth, and better wisdom, comes with listening to the advice and recommendations of those around you.
- Only fools are offended by the advice of others. Don't be a fool. Swallow your pride and see it as a learning experience, free to make mistakes.
- Especially in areas where you think you know a lot: be humble enough to listen to others.
- I don't take criticism well. I need to work on this. After all, it's helping me become a better person.
- Encourage others who are struggling, knowing how much encouragement means to you when you need it.
- No one's perfect. Don't be hard on yourself for not being perfect. Give yourself grace, as God gives grace to you.
- Don't feel like you have to come up with something substantive every time. Either limit your writings to when you do, or just accept there will be gems mixed in with a lot of "boring" everyday stuff.
- The seed of growth is awe of the Lord, and recognizing His greatness compared to you. Then, rampant growth will occur. You'll grow in understanding, surrounding yourself with those who serve His commands. Eventually, His most dedicated servants all obtain good understanding; someday, you will too.
Bible Verse to leave myself with, to meditate on:
Psalm 111:10: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth forever.
Somehow this verse seems appropriate, as this is a day of new beginning (of a blog, and a commitment to a true Christian life for me!). I commit to doing the Lord's commandments, and that is what is meant by wisdom in the Bible - you are serving the Lord God. If you fear Him as our Master, and carry out His commands, that is what makes you wise.
cf. almost identical verses: Job 28:28; Proverbs 9:10, both of which equate wisdom with fear (or awe/love) of the Lord, and understanding with recognizing what is good and evil in life, and choosing good.
Always choose good.
That is the role of a Jedi, and what I attach to being a Jedi.
Proverbs 1:7 expands on this, with wisdom being the same, but now the caveat is that fools despise wisdom and instruction.
I don't take criticism well. I need to work on this. Also, sometimes someone else will point out good and evil in life that you can't see. Now, you can't just take their word for it (they may not be correct themselves, even if they're sincere), but don't dismiss it just because you didn't think of it.
Goals
- letting go of a hard-line "perfect" image - no one's perfect
- Being humble
- Listening to others, even those who I don't think know much
- Not judging how much others know about something
- Encouraging those "lesser" in an area than I
- seeing God's greatness for what it is - how infinitely large and above me it is
