WHY DON’T I KNOW?

Sunday’s Monday

This is a question that I often ask myself, “why don’t I know” this or that, and my first thought or answer is usually, I thought I did. It’s a great cover-up excuse and defense for protecting my ego and pride over my lack of knowledge. I have recently become a fan of Dr. Rick Rigsby who said, “Ego is the anesthesia that deadens the pain of stupidity, and pride is the burden of a foolish person!” Either of which has the ability to derail my best efforts but together they go from manipulative to treacherous. Factually, many of us feel we can even depend on ego to be a driving force and pride to be an enabler of perfection. Which they very well could be, however, there are always those adverse side effects in which our humility inevitably suffers a certain measure of death as the two grow in power and control.

When we are honest with ourselves, we see our dependence in willingly choosing to say I don’t know as an excuse to escape blame or pursue those things which fulfill our selfish desires? Such is often the case with love. Sounds ridiculous, but do we truly know what we think we know? Many of us either have no clue or have such a loose understanding of what love actually is, that it’s no wonder the world is in a mess. Many have a very good understanding of the world’s definition of love. Dictionary.com defines love as; 1- a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person. 2- a feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection, as for a parent, child, or friend. 3- sexual passion or desire. But only a few ever discover the love God defines in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (ESV), 4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful, 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. Far too many settle for man’s vague definition of love, because it’s easily confused with lust and low maintenance. As well it is the love many of us experienced and witnessed growing up. Many fear the selfless cost of learning God’s agape love!

Just ask yourself, right now, why don’t I know about things such as life and the best ways to navigate my way through it? Simple, I didn’t have the want or need! I learned from my parents who fumbled, stumbled, and guessed their way from ditch to ditch blaming bad luck, cheap jobs, wrong crowd; anything that would cast blame anywhere but on themselves. In truth, I became so convinced of being right that I would fiercely challenge anyone who attempted to tell me I was my problem, and they could help me learn a better way. I had reached the point where My pride became my guide, as I relied on experience to supply, all I needed to know about life. Which merely earned me the community title of “the dumbest know it all, a person could ever meet!” Is it any wonder I didn’t know Proverbs 26:12 (ESV), Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

To ever receive the answer to why don’t I know; I had to look beyond myself and reach out to God. He led me to those He appointed to help me answer this brutal question; how well do I know me and how well do I want to know, the me He created? Truth be told, when God introduced me, to the real me, I found myself standing face to face with an acquaintance. I honestly knew more about my neighbor than I knew about the me He created. Somewhere way back, I turned from who I was created to be and became that which brought me what I thought I wanted. Looking back, I didn’t know me, because I didn’t know God! I was living James 1:23-24 (ESV), 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. Andy Andrews said, “Poor is the man whose future depends on the opinions and permission of others. Remember this, if you are afraid of criticism, you will die doing nothing!" Man’s knowledge obtains value, whereas God’s wisdom brings life into that value!

Heavenly Father, please grant us a penetrating desire to obtain more of your wisdom. You tell us in 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 (ESV), 26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. Help us each to desire and find your truth in the question of, why don’t I know. Thank you, Lord, for loving us. Amen

HAVE A BLESSED WEEK BY BEING A BLESSING TO OTHERS!

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