Wise Guys

One thing I appreciate is preachers who maintain a sense of humor. Many Christians (including myself at times) tend to take themselves too seriously and need to lighten up more. As Proverbs 17:22 says, “A merry heart does good, like medicine…”

I also enjoy listening to comedians as long as their material is clean and don’t contain profanity. To this day I still laugh while watching old Three Stooges films. Who could forget all the crazy sounds made by Curly Howard plus his various catchphrases? One of which sometimes used by the other Stooges was “Oh, a wise guy!”

Once I was married to a woman whose maiden name was Kerley. Although that short-lived marriage ended acrimoniously, one fond memory I have of my ex was her calling me a “wise guy” when I said or did something funny. To which I replied, “What do you expect? I married a Kerley!”

God wants all of us to be “wise guys”…or in other words have wisdom. Proverbs 4:7 (KJV) says, “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.” The New Living Translation of this verse reads, “Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do! And whatever else you do, develop good judgment.” 

One dictionary defines wisdom is “the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment.” Knowing a bunch of facts and figures won’t do much good if one cannot apply them to their lives.

There are many wise guys in the Bible. Among them include…

• Joseph – “Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you.’” (Genesis 41:39)

• Temple Craftsmen –  “And I, indeed I, have appointed with him Aholiab the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan; and I have put wisdom in the hearts of all the gifted artisans, that they may make all that I have commanded you:” (Exodus 31:6)

• Joshua - “Now Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him; so the children of Israel heeded him, and did as the Lord had commanded Moses.” (Deuteronomy 34:9)

• David – “And David behaved wisely in all his ways, and the Lord was with him” (1 Samuel 18:14)

• Solomon (often considered the wisest man who ever lived) - “And God gave Solomon wisdom and exceedingly great understanding, and largeness of heart like the sand on the seashore. Thus Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the men of the East and all the wisdom of Egypt.” (1 Kings 4:29-30)

• Daniel and his three Hebrew friends - “As for these four young men, God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.” (Daniel 1:17)

Regarding our Lord’s earthly ministry, Luke 2:52 says, “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.”

And of course, there were the wise men from the East who traveled to see the Lord after He was born in Matthew 2. Nativity scenes usually show them with the shepherds looking at a newborn baby Jesus. The fact is by the time the wise men reached Bethlehem, Jesus was referred to as “the young Child.” That’s why Satan influenced King Herod to order all the male children two years old and under to be killed in an attempt to wipe out the promised Messiah.

Do you have a pressing situation in your own life but don’t know what to do? James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” One great way to cultivate wisdom is to share the gospel and lead others to salvation…

“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.” - Proverbs 11:30

“Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever.” - Daniel 12:3

So if you’re serious about progressing in your Christian walk, be a consistent soul winner and surround yourself with like-minded believers. Again God wants all His children to be wise guys (and girls).

“He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed.” - Proverbs 13:20

Oh My Stars!

Facebook is a convenient way to stay in touch with friends, reconnect with old ones and meet new people. It’s also provided me an outlet to minister to numerous folks at once plus share evangelism testimonies. But just like any other technological tool, Facebook can be used for ungodly purposes.

I’ve noticed a few friends posting horoscopes on their Facebook pages. Perhaps some of them are ignorant of what the Bible says regarding astrology and the occult. That’s why it’s important to read the word of God. There are numerous warnings about seeking counsel from astrologers and fortunetellers. Here are a few of them…

“And the person who turns to mediums and familiar spirits, to prostitute himself with them, I will set My face against that person and cut him off from his people.” - Leviticus 20:6

“There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For all who do these things are an abomination to the LORD, and because of these abominations the LORD your God drives them out from before you.” - Deuteronomy 18:10-12

“You are wearied in the multitude of your counsels; let now the astrologers, the stargazers, and the monthly prognosticators stand up and save you from what shall come upon you. Behold, they shall be as stubble, the fire shall burn them; They shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame; It shall not be a coal to be warmed by, nor a fire to sit before!” - Isaiah 47:13-14

While Satan has some supernatural power, it is inferior to God’s. Look at Daniel 2…

27 Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, “The secret which the king has demanded, the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, and the soothsayers cannot declare to the king. 

28 But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. 

Daniel then went on to interpret the king’s dream.

Some may argue the wise men in Matthew 2 were astrologers since a star led them to Jesus. The Lord can use physical objects to guide us. License plates from a particular state often appear at peculiar times whenever He wants me traveling somewhere. But that’s usually to confirm direction already given me. If we depend too much on outside circumstances for guidance and not the Holy Spirit, the devil can manipulate things to deceive us. That’s why it’s best not to put out “fleeces” when seeking divine direction. Romans 8:14 says, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.”

Christians who think reading horoscopes is just harmless fun should recall the woman in Acts 16 who had a spirit of divination…

16 Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. 

17 This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” 

18 And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour.

So if you have been dabbling in horoscopes or other occult activities, I urge you to stop!  Ephesians 4:27 commands us to give no place to the devil. We also don't want to be doing things that might cause other young believers to stumble. Instead of looking to the stars for guidance, people should look to the One who created the stars.

“And take heed, lest you lift your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun, the moon, and the stars, all the host of heaven, you feel driven to worship them and serve them, which the LORD your God has given to all the peoples under the whole heaven as a heritage.” - Deuteronomy 4:19