Hey, Stupid!

Growing up, we’d get a whuppin’ for calling someone stupid. Deep down I always knew I had Scriptural support for calling my twin brother stupid, but I could never prove it!

Seriously, I love how God cuts to the chase. He doesn’t sugar coat things, He tells it like it is. There are times when people are just plain stupid. We’ll look at a few, but first, let’s define the word:

Stupid

• to be numb or astonished because of ignorance
• slow of mind
• given to unintelligent decisions or acts
• acting in an unintelligent or careless manner
• lacking intelligence or reason
• dulled in feeling or sensation
• marked by or resulting from unreasoned thinking or acting
• lacking in power to absorb ideas or impressions.
• a slow-witted or dazed state of mind that may be either congenital or temporary
• a slow or sluggish mind
• implies a thickheaded imperviousness to ideas
• an exasperating obtuseness or lack of comprehension

In the Bible, the original Hebrew word is “ba’ar” meaning brutish, simple, stupid or foolish.

Given those definitions, make no mistake, God is not “hinting” here…. He is just plainly declaring that certain acts, behaviors, attitudes or characteristics make a man STUPID. Not very politically correct, but not hard to understand either.

It’s Stupid to Reject Godly Correction

Proverbs 12:1 Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, But he who hates correction is stupid. (NKJV)

Whoever hates to be corrected is stupid. I was just reading this week about a famous athlete who declared how he hates being told what to do, or told he is wrong about something. Stupid! To hate correction is to assume, arrogantly and pridefully, that either we are NEVER in need of correction because we are always right, or that we don’t care about being wrong. Stupid!

We should crave and appreciate correction that comes from God’s Word because each time we accept it and change accordingly, we become a bit more like Christ.

It’s Stupid to Lean on Man’s Understanding

Proverbs 30:2 Surely I am more stupid than any man, And do not have the understanding of a man. (NKJV)

Proverbs has several chapters about the stupidity of pursuing man’s wisdom over God’s. Any time we turn to our own understanding and neglect seeking God, we get in trouble.

Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction. (NKJV)

To fear the Lord is to know that His ways are the ONLY WAY and learn what they are. Fools, or stupid men, don’t care for wisdom and instruction. They just want to live life fulfilling the “craving of the moment”, doing what they think is “right in their own eyes” (Prov 12.15). It is a genuinely stupid (and dangerous) approach to life.

It’s Stupid to Talk Too Much

Titus 3:9 But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. (NKJV)

It’s a foolish and stupid to waste time engaged in endless religious disputes, arguments over minor points, and ceaseless rhetoric over the latest theological fads. If our conversations don’t draw someone to Christ, draw us to Christ, accomplish God’s will or edify those around us, we should shut up (Eph 4.29). How many times I have silently told myself “shut up, stupid”… (and oh, how many times I have ignored myself!!)

We do well to learn the discipline of “shutting up”; the stupid person takes no heed in what they say, how much they say, or how they say it.

• Proverbs 21:23 Whoever guards his mouth and tongue Keeps his soul from troubles. (NKJV)
• Proverbs 17:27 He who has knowledge spares his words, And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit. (NKJV)
• James 3:5-6 Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. (NKJV)

It’s Stupid to Claim There is No God

Psalm 14:1 The fool has said in his heart,“There is no God.” They are corrupt, They have done abominable works, There is none who does good. (NKJV)

Well that’s pretty self-explanatory. How stupid to say God doesn’t exist when all of creation cries out there is….

Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, (NKJV)

It’s Stupid to Sin

Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. (NKJV)

We will always pay for our sin. You can never slip one over on God. It’s stupid to think otherwise. You know, we might just stop sinning altogether if we could really get a grasp on the true meaning and depth of “you reap what you sow”. How much sorrow could be avoided? How many lives could be saved from ruin? How many tears not shed? It is always, always, always just plain stupid to sin. Which shows just how stupid we can be given the amount of sin in our lives.

It would be fun to have the entire congregation
one Sunday morning wear “I’m with Stupid!” t-shirts,
just to make a point. Any takers?

It’s Stupid to Neglect God’s Word

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (NKJV)

Given the benefits and rewards of Bible study, how stupid to neglect it. We chase pleasure and neglect the Bible. We work ourselves ragged for more money, and neglect God’s Word. We laze around and waste away worshipping the “one-eyed-glowing-god-of-garbage”, while the Bible sits closed; at least it makes a handy spot to rest the remote control.

If we really understood the true riches found in Scripture, and the true harm of neglecting it, it would be very hard to find time for our myriads of passive pleasure; because all our time would be spent consuming God’s Word.

In the famous words of Forrest Gump (who was making a Godly statement and didn’t even know it), “stupid is, as stupid does”. So don’t be stupid.

Lord, Help us not to be stupid; and please point it out when when are. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.