Tuesday; August 26

How important is it to be the smartest kid in the room?  Now, if you or your children are competing for academic scholarships, there might be something to this; but what about the rest of us the rest of the time?  I believe that, for many of us, showing off our smarts can drive how we interact with each other.  There are times when having the right answer can lead to impetuous behavior.  Other times, correcting people who have the wrong answer can be done with a condescending tone.  In essence, being right may not be our goal – being seen as smart is what guides our behavior.  With this in mind, can you ever imagine being correct, but being wrong?  Oh, we might have the right answer, but the wrong attitude.

Interestingly, this isn’t just a social issue, it is also something that is warned against in the Bible.  The writer, James, notes, “Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.” (James 3:13).  In essence, if we want to be seen as exceptional, we do it through our actions as well as our intellect. 

Let’s not seek to be the smartest person in the room, let’s strive to be the best influence in the group.  When we do that, we might be able to teach more than facts and figures.

          Think About It!

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