The comedians Ron White and Larry the Cable Guy coined a catchphrase in their shows that stuck. They’d end a joke about someone doing something dumb by saying, “You can’t fix stupid!” In other words, you can’t force someone to make a good decision. Despite the best available counsel and opportunities, and available knowledge and intelligence, people often do the dumb thing. Nowhere is this more true than in Scripture.
Ancient history’s greatest leaders often did the stupid thing. Chosen by God for a specific purpose and mission, and given direct instruction by the Almighty, they made the choice to go in the wrong direction. Cain’s jealousy of his brother Abel leads him to murder. Lot’s wife looks back to the evil of Sodom and Gomorrah and is killed. Abraham has a baby with the family servant Hagar, not trusting God’s timing for the start of his family. Moses struck a rock in anger, in disobedience to God’s command. King Saul’s pride and impulsiveness led to military defeats. King David had an affair with Bathsheba, then has her husband Uriah killed to cover it up. Judas betrays Christ for thirty pieces of silver. Time after time, when given the opportunity, leaders make stupid choices.
And this is all the more true today. Leaders betray their staffs. They take money that isn’t rightfully theirs. They have relationships outside of their marriages. They covet and craft means to take power and prestige. They overcharge and underdeliver. They hide mismanagement. They break promises. Given the right, ethical, moral way before them, they do the stupid thing.
But, on reflection and study, you can fix stupid! The movie character Forrest Gump had the line, “Stupid is as stupid does.” What Forrest was saying is that stupid is not a measure of intelligence. Stupid is determined by behavior. You’re only stupid if you do the stupid thing. In the movie, Forrest had a low IQ, but he lived his life well by making smart choices. The lesson is that leaders can be smart simply in what they do, not necessarily by what they know or think. How does a leader, then, make a habit of doing the smart thing?
Smart Words. God reminds us consistently throughout the Bible that we can trust His Words. James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” If you want smart words, all you have to do is ask! What God tells us is always true, and His instructions are always for our good and our benefit. Proverbs 3:13 confirms, “Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold.”
Even tough words in the Bible like “love your enemies” or “forgive seventy times seven” are designed to grow us into Christ-likeness. Colossians 3:16 tells us to “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom…” Following these difficult instructions of Christ grows the leader in wisdom through his actions. Self-help books are filled with words that tell leaders to “follow your heart”, “discover your passion” or “avoid toxic people”. These words may seem smart, but they’re stupid, because they contradict the teachings of Scripture. Whatever we find in God’s Word is trustworthy wisdom that helps us avoid stupid mistakes and sin. Following the Bible’s teaching closely keeps us from acting stupid.
Smart counsel. Stupid choices often come in isolation, or by unwise counsel. As a leader, your circle of counsel is terribly important. Adam was responsible for his sin because he listened to Eve. Abram was responsible for his sin because he listened to Sarai. In good counsel we find a path to smart choices. Proverbs 11:14 says, “Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.” How do you know that someone around you is not giving you stupid advice? In the same way you avoid stupid yourself—look to their actions. Wise people walk in wisdom, making smart and godly choices. Stupid people reveal themselves with stupid actions, the most common of which is moving in disobedience to God’s clear commands.
Wise counselors reflect on their own experiences. They approach with empathy and compassion. They have strong communication skills. And they’re not afraid to tell you when they believe you’re doing something stupid. A key facet of wise counsel is that the person giving you advice is doing so primarily for your own good, and not their own gain. Today’s world is filled with “entourage” individuals, who attach themselves to leaders like leaches, for influence or status or greed. Psalm 1:1-2 differentiates between wise and foolish counsel, saying, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.” Following the advice of the upright man who delights in God will keep a leader from being stupid.
The smart process. In the sitcom Seinfeld, the characters often acted stupidly. They tried to do things in their own self-interest, but constantly failed. In an episode named The Opposite, George realizes that “Every decision I’ve ever made in my entire life has been wrong.” Jerry convinces him to do the opposite of whatever he thinks in the moment. Jerry says, “If every instinct you have is wrong, then the opposite would have to be right.” The result is spectacular. George gets a date, then a new job. He becomes successful as soon as he stops following his personal inclination. It’s all comedy, of course, but has a ring of truth.
Most of the time, leaders will find the difference between stupid and smart is found in a moment. Seldom will a leader who spends time in contemplation and prayer ahead of a decision or direction find themselves doing the stupid thing. Impulsiveness in a leader results in actions that are ill-considered, without proper thought into consequences. The idea of a smart process is not just taking time to make decisions, but to also persevere, which is to remain steady under pressure. It is to stop and consider, even when it is hard to wait. James 1:12 promises, “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” Thoughtful, prayerful decisions in keeping with a foundation of faith keeps a leader from being stupid.
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We aren’t teaching boys what it means to be a man. They lack not only the knowledge of manhood, but any concept of the responsibilities of a man. In short, males do not know how to live and act as men.