The Guy Who Knows It All (But Doesn’t)
By Dean Collins
I know a guy. Maybe you know one, too. Not the guy who can help you out with a problem you are trying to solve. In reality, this guy really doesn’t want to help you out; he simply wants you to be impressed with his knowledge, his accomplishments, or his wealth. He is the kind of guy that appears to enjoy listening to himself because he doesn’t really take time to listen to you or anyone else. He may help you out, as long as you give him lots of praise for his generosity and brilliance.
The guy I know was described centuries ago by Solomon. Here is one of the things the wise king said about the guy I know. Maybe he is like that guy you know as well.
“A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.”
Our guy basically likes to hear himself talk. And there is probably no subject that he is not the expert on. That’s his assessment, but what you and I both know, is that self-perception is not our guy’s strong suit. It is his glaring weakness. Unfortunately, this guy is pretty smooth, so sometimes people fall for what he is selling before it is too late. I have made that mistake a few times. Hopefully, the more I seek to be like another person I will describe, the less likely I am to make the same mistake again.
As Jesus spoke to the crowd in Matthew 11, he made a significant statement about wisdom in verse 19: “Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.” I doubt any of us would disagree. The actions of wisdom always result in proper attitudes and behavior. This is like a cliché we sometimes say about “practicing what you preach.” In this case, Jesus had just referred to himself as the Son of Man, stating that many questioned his identity and authority because he spent time with sinners:
“The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”
In both 2 Corinthians and Colossians, Paul makes clear that the treasures of wisdom are found in Christ. Consider these two statements:
“But we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.”
“That their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
Realizing that Jesus is pure wisdom and that his wisdom is available to us as we surrender to him and ask that he grant us wisdom, as James indicated that we should, then it becomes clear who we must follow.
So, forget about the guy you know who seems wise but is deceived. We need to make sure that we don’t act like the guy who thinks he knows it all but is both foolish and filled with pride. The one we need to listen to, to surrender our lives to, and to follow is Jesus. And when we do, his wisdom will flow to us and through us so that we might accomplish his will on earth as it is in heaven.
Your Time with God’s Word
Proverbs 18:2; Matthew 11:19; 1 Corinthians 1:23-24; Colossians 2:2-3; James 1:5, 3:13 ESV
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