Are You A Smart Alec?
A person who is blind, in any sense, is blind. They may have their other senses heightened to help them perceive and get around, but they are still blind (a.k.a. cannot see).
My point is... If you are blind, you cannot see what you can't see. In the non-physiological sense, you don't know what you don't know. I guess that's why as we grow older and acquire more knowledge, more often than not, we become aware that the more we learn, the more we don't know. And if we know better, we would be humbled by it. By God's grace and revelation, I am. Even in my faith, I know I am still amazed by the grace of God, what He can do and will do for those He love, and I'm often awed by how unfailing and faithful is His love.
So, in our weakness and imperfection, I often wonder how anyone could afford to be arrogant and be in contempt of those who appear to be ignorant of any topic. Cuz even if we claim to know very much about something, our knowledge is not complete and we remain unaware of what we have not come across. Even knowledge that seems to be commonsensical knowledge may not be that common to others.
It's funny (not) how sometimes when someone we encounter doesn't act with, what appears to be, common sense knowledge (which by definition means sound, practical judgment), we kind of look at them in ridicule and with impatience. I mean, what's wrong with just empathizing and helping that person understand?
What if we're the one who is ignorant and still perceive ourselves to be wise in a matter? Cuz we obviously don't see, and refuse to seek understanding of, how a person may genuinely not know. We simply jump to conclusion and judge another as ignorant, devoid of common sense. Such an attitude not only lead us to become arrogant, but to proud to admit when we later realise our own ignorance.
2 Samuel 22:28
You will save the humble people; but Your eyes are on the haughty, that You may bring them down.
Psalm 25:9
The humble He guides in justice, and the humble He teaches His way.
Proverbs 11:2
When pride comes, then comes shame; but with the humble is wisdom.
James 4:6
But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."
It is with concern that I look at this because such arrogance is the 'proud' that God would resist. And we know very well that we desperately need the grace of God to make it through. We cannot afford to be resisted by God and be left on our own. Being street-smart and all wised-up doesn't fireproof us from the truth about God's ways and judgment on the prideful people who hold other in contempt (for whatever reason).
Would you allow yourself to be deceived if you knew you had been deceived? Do you know that pride can deceive us? Like blindness which can only be cured by sight, we need humility to deliver us from pride.
True wisdom and pride just doesn't go together. So let's wise-up in the fear of the LORD.
James 3:13-18
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. 18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
PS: According to Wikipedia, a "smart alec" or "smart aleck" is a person regarded as obnoxiously self-assertive and an impudent person.
My point is... If you are blind, you cannot see what you can't see. In the non-physiological sense, you don't know what you don't know. I guess that's why as we grow older and acquire more knowledge, more often than not, we become aware that the more we learn, the more we don't know. And if we know better, we would be humbled by it. By God's grace and revelation, I am. Even in my faith, I know I am still amazed by the grace of God, what He can do and will do for those He love, and I'm often awed by how unfailing and faithful is His love.
So, in our weakness and imperfection, I often wonder how anyone could afford to be arrogant and be in contempt of those who appear to be ignorant of any topic. Cuz even if we claim to know very much about something, our knowledge is not complete and we remain unaware of what we have not come across. Even knowledge that seems to be commonsensical knowledge may not be that common to others.
It's funny (not) how sometimes when someone we encounter doesn't act with, what appears to be, common sense knowledge (which by definition means sound, practical judgment), we kind of look at them in ridicule and with impatience. I mean, what's wrong with just empathizing and helping that person understand?
What if we're the one who is ignorant and still perceive ourselves to be wise in a matter? Cuz we obviously don't see, and refuse to seek understanding of, how a person may genuinely not know. We simply jump to conclusion and judge another as ignorant, devoid of common sense. Such an attitude not only lead us to become arrogant, but to proud to admit when we later realise our own ignorance.
2 Samuel 22:28
You will save the humble people; but Your eyes are on the haughty, that You may bring them down.
Psalm 25:9
The humble He guides in justice, and the humble He teaches His way.
Proverbs 11:2
When pride comes, then comes shame; but with the humble is wisdom.
James 4:6
But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."
It is with concern that I look at this because such arrogance is the 'proud' that God would resist. And we know very well that we desperately need the grace of God to make it through. We cannot afford to be resisted by God and be left on our own. Being street-smart and all wised-up doesn't fireproof us from the truth about God's ways and judgment on the prideful people who hold other in contempt (for whatever reason).
Would you allow yourself to be deceived if you knew you had been deceived? Do you know that pride can deceive us? Like blindness which can only be cured by sight, we need humility to deliver us from pride.
True wisdom and pride just doesn't go together. So let's wise-up in the fear of the LORD.
James 3:13-18
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. 18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
PS: According to Wikipedia, a "smart alec" or "smart aleck" is a person regarded as obnoxiously self-assertive and an impudent person.
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