When Life Stinks
Wisdom is skill in living. It is infinitely different and vastly superior to education, intelligence, or pedigree. Wisdom is so highly valued in the scriptures that the entire book of Proverbs is dedicated to an excavation of its it’s purpose, an exploration of its acquisition, and an examination of its benefits.
In Proverbs 2:10-11, the sacred writer wraps a powerful principle inside a peculiar phrase. He promises us that
When wisdom entereth into thine heart, And knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; Discretion shall preserve thee, Understanding shall keep thee:
.According to this verse, two of the benefits that wisdom provides is preservation and protection from “evil men” and “strange women.” The writer contends that these two benefits will result when “knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul.”
What a peculiar phrase! It asks us to imagine knowledge as a fragrance or as a food. We do not tend to think of knowledge in such terms. The scent or roses is pleasant. But knowledge? A whiff of a freshly baked croissant is pleasant. But knowledge? What I find particularly arresting about this phrase is the principle implied in its converse. If knowledge can be pleasant, then it stands to reason that knowledge can also be unpleasant. And it usually is.
The same man who wrote Proverbs 2:10 also wrote Ecclesiastes 1:18, which warns us that if you increase knowledge you increase sorrow. That verse may be the provenance of the idea that ignorance is bliss—the idea that not knowing certain facts or ignoring certain truths provides a certain level of comfort. How often have you said to yourself “I wish I didn’t know that?” In both of these verses, Solomon is angling at the same truth. The acquisition of knowledge will cause sorrow. But the sorrow that it causes is a necessary prelude to growth, maturity and blessing. The acquisition of knowledge isn’t often pleasant. It often stinks. The facts are usually fetid. But if you can abide the smell, it brings incalculable benefits.
Sometimes, life stinks. And we do our best to avoid it. Our relationships can sink. Our credit rating can stink. Our health can stink. One of my wife’s best friends always says that she hates going to the Doctor because they always find something wrong with you. LOL. Well, that’s why so many of us avoid going. We don’t want to know that we may have high blood pressure, prostrate cancer, or signs of early dementia. Knowledge isn’t always pleasant—and most of us do our best to avoid it. Anything or anyone that shows us the truth about ourselves, our circumstances or our limitations is cast aside, shunned or labeled an enemy or a “hater.”
But if you don’t let the smell stop you, the acquisition of knowledge will put you on the road to growth, maturity and blessing. One of the miracles that Jesus performed occurred in a cemetery. One of his best friends was sick, and had died while Jesus was en-route to visit him. Once he arrived, Lazarus’ two sisters were disappointed because they believed that had Jesus arrived earlier, he may have been able to intervene. Undeterred, Jesus told them that Lazarus had died so that that glory of God would be revealed. Then, he asked where Lazarus had been buried. This is what happened next:
Jesus was still terribly upset. So he went to the tomb, which was a cave with a stone rolled against the entrance. Then he told the people to roll the stone away. But Martha said, “Lord, you know that Lazarus has been dead four days, and there will be a bad smell.” Jesus replied, “Didn't I tell you that if you had faith, you would see the glory of God?” After the stone had been rolled aside, Jesus looked up toward heaven and prayed, “Father, I thank you for answering my prayer. I know that you always answer my prayers. But I said this, so the people here would believe you sent me.” When Jesus had finished praying, he shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” The man who had been dead came out. His hands and feet were wrapped with strips of burial cloth, and a cloth covered his face. Jesus then told the people, “Untie him and let him go.”
Jesus did not let the smell stop him. Neither should you. Roll the stone away from in front of whatever tomb you have deposited your uncomfortable and inconvenient truths. They may smell bad. The facts are usually fetid. But don’t let the smell stop you.