Who is the smartest person you know? Perhaps you are thinking of a wise and learned individual you’ve met at work, university, or church. You know – someone with a great education and much life experience. Well, if you asked the 14-year-old boy I live with his answer to that question he would probably say himself! I don’t know what it is about those teen years, but kids like my son are pretty sure they know everything; and if they don’t, they’ll just text a friend who does. That makes parenting so much fun.
I’ve been thinking about my omniscient boy in the context of our theme for this school year “Feel the Power!” based on 2 Timothy 1:7. As he entered high school this year, my wife and I have really tried to work with our son on making wise choices about who he follows and where he puts his trust. It’s so easy for young people to put their faith in a peer who just might not know what they’re doing or talking about. That’s when 1 Corinthians 2:5 can be a big help: “So that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” Even as adults we can sometimes be led astray by people whose earthly wisdom seems sound. But if knowledge is truly power, then we must rely only on the power and wisdom of God. He is the keeper of truth, and we should use His Word as our foremost guide. Now if I can just convince that boy…