What’s Worse Than Being Stupid?

By Joe Chesser

 

    I can’t remember who it was.  I wish I could. I do remember that it was a well-known motivational speaker.  He was trying to stress the importance of knowledge to a group of high school students.  He pointed out (paraphrased from my limited memory), “You are in a great place, a place of learning.  By all means, don’t leave here without getting knowledge because knowledge will help you earn a living.  Being broke is a bad thing, but being stupid is worse.”

    Then it seemed like he started deviating from his planned speech.  He went on to say, “Well, I guess being broke and stupid is worse than just being stupid.  There’s not much worse, unless you’re sick and broke and stupid.  That’s about as bad as it gets.  Well, maybe there’s one more thing worse – being ugly and sick and broke and stupid.”

    I’d have to agree with him.  Being ugly and sick and broke and stupid is scraping the bottom of the barrel.  That’s a pitiful condition.  I’m glad to say that nobody comes to my mind by that description.  But let me quickly add, that as bad as being ugly and sick and broke and stupid is, there is one thing that makes a person like that seem like Time’s Man of the Year.

    There is nothing, and I mean nothing, as bad as being spiritually lost.  There is nothing more pitiful, nothing more devastating, nothing as disgraceful as being eternally lost. Nothing.

    Yet, we spend most of our waking hours trying to overcome being ugly and sick and broke and stupid.  How much time do you spend each day on just your hair and face just to look a little more attractive?  How much time do you spend each day thinking about and doing something about your health (diet / exercise)?  How much time do you spend each day working to earn money and planning on how to manage your money, so you won’t be broke?  How much of your life is spent on education so you won’t be stupid?

    Now, how much time do you spend each day beautifying your soul?  Or working to make sure your soul is at optimum health?  Or filling your mind with the word of God?  As you know, your soul is your only possession that will survive death and the eventual destruction of this world.  When you stand before God in Judgment, it won’t matter if you were pretty or if you were ugly while on earth.  It won’t matter how sick or healthy you were, how poor or how rich you were, or how smart you were.  The only thing that will matter is the condition of your soul.

    Even though you may be ugly, sick, broke and stupid, as a child of God, you are among the most blessed people ever!  Make sure you spend your time on what matters!

- Joe Chesser preaches for the Fruitland Church of Christ, Fruitland, MO.  He may be contacted at joeandareva@yahoo.com