Stinkin’ thinkin’

I have a problem! The Lord has helped me and brought me a long way in regard to this problem, but the problem still rears its ugly head every now and then if I am not intentional in my thinking. My problem is this: I have a great tendency to proclaim all of the potential negatives in any given situation before the idea can even be fully presented. 

If someone has an idea, I can tell them 10 reasons it might not work off the top of my head. (Maybe the top of my head needs work.) And while it is not necessarily a bad thing to look for all the pitfalls before beginning a project, by immediately jumping in with negative comments, I can inadvertently destroy any willingness on the other person’s part to come up with more ideas, or to even talk it out.

By admitting my problem, I have somewhat aligned myself with the person that Solomon calls the mocker in the advice he has for us today — “A mocker seeks wisdom and never finds it.” 

Mocking what others say (or disbelieving, or debunking or pointing out 10 reasons it won’t work) is a sure-fire way to miss wisdom. By mocking, you are showing your own narrow focus and you are blocking off any new ideas from coming to your own understanding. In an even broader sense of the term, mockers are in essence saying that they already know everything and there is no room for any new knowledge or wisdom — Your mind is made up and closed for the day.

The mocker is closely related to the fool, according to Solomon — “Stay away from fools, for you won’t find knowledge there.” When you are dealing with a mocker or a fool, not only are they closed to any creativity or new ideas, but they will also stifle your own as well. You cannot add to your own understanding while in the presence of a fool. 

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