{"id":22265,"date":"2025-11-15T00:01:34","date_gmt":"2025-11-15T08:01:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/davesevern.com\/blog\/?p=22265"},"modified":"2025-11-10T12:46:27","modified_gmt":"2025-11-10T20:46:27","slug":"how-to-make-certain-you-dont-stay-stupid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/davesevern.com\/blog\/how-to-make-certain-you-dont-stay-stupid\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Make Certain You Don&#8217;t Stay Stupid"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/davesevern.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/How To Make Certain You Dont Stay Stupid.mp3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-474\" src=\"http:\/\/davesevern.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/SEV-CampfireAudio.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"375\" height=\"108\" srcset=\"https:\/\/davesevern.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/SEV-CampfireAudio.jpg 375w, https:\/\/davesevern.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/SEV-CampfireAudio-300x86.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 375px) 100vw, 375px\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">This article on Leadership is going to be straight forward, biting, and directly to the point. It is not intended to purposely harm any reader or listener, BUT&#8230;it is designed to tell the absolute God\u2019s Truth about gaining personal knowledge, understanding, and wisdom. Sadly, most of us <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">think<\/span> we are fairly wise and knowledgeable,&#8230;we <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">think<\/span> we know and understand what and how to do our chosen work, and a majority of those who have gained a certain expressed level of success <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">think<\/span> they know exactly what needs to be done,&#8230;so why do they need to continue to work and grow mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>A person must first grow oneself&#8230;in order to really know oneself.<\/strong> I will be so bold as to tell you that failure to grow and improve your present level of knowledge and understanding provides a sure-fire way for you to fail in what you are doing or trying to do. <strong>Prolonged failure to grow oneself will eventually lead a wanna-be-leader or an existing leader to self-destruction.<\/strong> If you, for any reason, disagree with what I have just told you,&#8230;then you do not know history very well.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">As is always the correct way to know what to properly do, all one needs to do is to go to the Word of God and see what He has to say on any given subject. Now if you say that you truly believe in God, then it follows that you have to also believe in His Word&#8230;\u201cIn the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.\u201d (John 1 : 1 ESV). There are basically two kinds of manners and ways to gain and possess knowledge, understanding, and wisdom in this world today: (1) God\u2019s ways or (2) Man\u2019s ways. One of the major reasons people suffer so much persecution, pain, and loss today is because they don\u2019t have any clue as to what they should be properly doing in any given effort they are undertaking. They have never learned or heard the truth of God and therefore by default apply only what they know which is Man\u2019s Ways. <strong>The right way to do things on this earth is God\u2019s Way,&#8230;not Man\u2019s.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Now that statement presupposes that you believe in God and in His Word, and that you are willing to grow and increase your knowledge and understanding of life and human nature. It is not all that difficult to gain such knowledge and understanding, but it will require that you put forth a significant amount of time, energy, and effort to gain it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Permit me to share with you what the <strong>Book of Proverbs<\/strong>, i.e. the <strong>Book of Wisdom<\/strong> is all about.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Practical wisdom for living is the central concern of the Book of Proverbs. We are told therein that the beginning and essence of wisdom is the fear of the Lord. (1:7, 9:10). Proverbs often contrasts the benefits of seeking wisdom and the pitfalls of living a fool\u2019s life. While the wicked stumble in \u201cdeep darkness\u201d (4:19), \u201cthe path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.\u201d (v. 18). Proverbs is a collection of Israelite wisdom literature, including an introductory section (Chapters 1&#8211;9) that gives readers a framework for understanding the rest of the book. The book includes the work of various authors, but much of it is attributed to King Solomon. It dates from between the tenth and sixth centuries B.C.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Hear the Word of God. It reads in the <strong>Book of Proverbs, Chapter 1, verses 1&#8211;7 ESV:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">The Beginning of Knowledge<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">(1)\u00a0 \u201cThe proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">(2)\u00a0\u00a0 To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of<\/span><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">insight,<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">(3)\u00a0\u00a0 to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness,<\/span><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">justice, and equity;<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">(4)\u00a0\u00a0 to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to<\/span><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">the youth&#8211;<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">(5)\u00a0 Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who <\/span><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">understands obtain guidance,<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">(6)\u00a0\u00a0 to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise<\/span><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">and their riddles.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">(7)\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;<\/span><\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">fools despise wisdom and instruction.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Now I will say to you that God wants you to be wise, healthy, and prosperous, After all, it was He who created you for His own good pleasure. But He also gave you a free will of choice so that it is up to you as to whether you want to become a wise man or remain a fool.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">One of the single most dangerous places on earth to be is to achieve great position or possession and then stop learning and growing within your own mind. As a matter of fact, I will tell you a great Truth of Life. <strong>The recipe for perpetual ignorance is: be satisfied with your opinions and be content with your knowledge.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Now God Almighty says the same thing in a different manner in the <strong>Book of Proverbs, Chapter 26, verse 12 NASB:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">(12) \u201cDo you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more<\/span><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">hope for a fool than for him.\u201d<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Allow me to tell you that you should never be satisfied with your own level of knowledge, understanding and wisdom, i.e. your own level of understanding, knowledge, and intellect. You should always be in a growth mode,&#8230;in an upward mobile position causing yourself to know more, do more and become more each and every day of your life. That my <\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">friends is going to require an all out effort on your part.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Your personal thoughts, words, actions, and efforts will always quickly identify, to any discerning person, who you really are and what you are really doing with the use of your life.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">People will only follow another person who knows where they are going and who is growing and becoming more in their personal life.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">A story please&#8230;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Napoleon Bonaparte was indeed a great leader of men. However being in a leadership role or position doesn\u2019t necessarily make a person a great leader. Performance which can only come from personal growth is what makes the really big differences in a person\u2019s life.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Napoleon was a genius in sparking patriotism in the common man. He often told this story:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Once while visiting a French province the great commander came upon an old soldier in full uniform but with one sleeve hanging empty. The soldier proudly wore the coveted Legion of Honor military recognition medal. Napoleon asked, \u201cWhere did you lose your arm?\u201d The soldier answered, \u201cAt Austerlitz, sire.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Napoleon asked, \u201cAnd for that you received the Legion of Honor?\u201d The man said, \u201cYes, sire. It is but a small token to pay for the decoration.\u201d Napoleon continued, \u201cYou must be the kind of man who regrets he did not lose both arms for his country.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">The one-armed man asked, \u201cWhat then would have been my reward?\u201d Napoleon answered, \u201cI would have awarded you a double Legion of Honor.\u201d<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">And with that, the proud old fighter drew his sword and immediately cut off his other arm.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Napoleon told and retold this story for many years before someone finally asked him,&#8230;\u201cHow?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">It is not wrong to question what you think you know.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Sometimes it\u2019s wrong not to.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Leaders Gotta Lead&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This article on Leadership is going to be straight forward, biting, and directly to the point. It is not intended to purposely harm any reader or listener, BUT&#8230;it is designed to tell the absolute God\u2019s Truth about gaining personal knowledge, &hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/davesevern.com\/blog\/how-to-make-certain-you-dont-stay-stupid\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-22265","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-leadership"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/davesevern.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22265","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/davesevern.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/davesevern.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/davesevern.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/davesevern.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22265"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/davesevern.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22265\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22268,"href":"https:\/\/davesevern.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22265\/revisions\/22268"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/davesevern.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22265"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/davesevern.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22265"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/davesevern.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22265"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}