How to be Smart
“Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid.” (Proverbs 12:1)
Ever notice the subtle ways people compete to prove they’re a little smarter than someone else? The topic might be spelling, computer geekery, or celebrity gossip; it doesn’t really matter. One person presents a bit of knowledge. If it’s not quite right, Mr. Smarty jumps in with the block -- making sure everyone notices he knew the score and you didn’t. On the other hand, if you produce a morsel of real genius, he now believes it’s his job to top you with an even more obscure factoid.
Here’s the truth: Everyone is a little bit afraid that they’re going to look stupid. Nobody wants to be known as the dumb guy; we want to be respected, appreciated, lauded with cash prizes for our understanding. But today’s passage makes the point that you can’t actually get from stoopid to smart without owning up to your lack of knowledge in the first place.
Proverbs is all about our need to grow in knowledge. Education is a good thing. But it takes large helpings of humility to stay on the path to smartsville. In a word, you’ve got to be willing to admit out loud, “I don’t know.” Or, worse, “I was wrong; show me the right way.”
Whether you’re learning state capitals or how to walk like Jesus, you can’t get there unless you’re teachable, bendable, willing to be wrong and made right. If you just hate being corrected, this verse says harshly, you’re stupid -- and you’ll stay that way.
Bonus: Counter to your instinct, people will like you better if you occasionally say “I don’t know” and/or “I was wrong.” We can all relate to that.
Ever notice the subtle ways people compete to prove they’re a little smarter than someone else? The topic might be spelling, computer geekery, or celebrity gossip; it doesn’t really matter. One person presents a bit of knowledge. If it’s not quite right, Mr. Smarty jumps in with the block -- making sure everyone notices he knew the score and you didn’t. On the other hand, if you produce a morsel of real genius, he now believes it’s his job to top you with an even more obscure factoid.
Here’s the truth: Everyone is a little bit afraid that they’re going to look stupid. Nobody wants to be known as the dumb guy; we want to be respected, appreciated, lauded with cash prizes for our understanding. But today’s passage makes the point that you can’t actually get from stoopid to smart without owning up to your lack of knowledge in the first place.
Proverbs is all about our need to grow in knowledge. Education is a good thing. But it takes large helpings of humility to stay on the path to smartsville. In a word, you’ve got to be willing to admit out loud, “I don’t know.” Or, worse, “I was wrong; show me the right way.”
Whether you’re learning state capitals or how to walk like Jesus, you can’t get there unless you’re teachable, bendable, willing to be wrong and made right. If you just hate being corrected, this verse says harshly, you’re stupid -- and you’ll stay that way.
Bonus: Counter to your instinct, people will like you better if you occasionally say “I don’t know” and/or “I was wrong.” We can all relate to that.
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