Don't Be A Birdbrain

Perhaps you have heard the expression; perhaps you have used it: "You are such a birdbrain."

Most everyone understands this expression. Even with some rather interesting research on the intelligence of certain kinds of birds, we recognize that, in general, birds have small heads, so they have small brains. So, we tend to equate the small brains to stupidity. Our generation was not the first.

Solomon observed:

   Indeed, it is useless to spread the net

   In the eyes of any bird.

   --Proverbs 1:17

A translation of the same verse from the Tanakh, a modern Jewish translation of the Old Testament, seems a little clearer.

   In the eyes of every winged creature

   The outspread net means nothing.

   --Proverbs 1:17 (Tanakh)

The simple idea is that a net is spread in full view of a bird, yet the bird is so stupid, it is still caught in the net. It cannot understand the danger of the net; the net means nothing. The wise Solomon was using this illustration to warn his son against running with friends who were involved in evil things. Those involved in evil are no better off than the birds.

But they [those who run to evil]  lie in wait for their own blood; 

They ambush their own lives.

--Proverbs 1:18

The evil person has the stupidity of a bird. He might even take stupidity to its extreme: He is not only caught in a trap that he can see, he set the trap for himself through his pursuit of evil! This is the crowning jewel of stupidity; the pinnacle of stupidity; stupidity's most glorious moment, shining as bright as the sun!

The Book of Proverbs was written for the purpose of keeping people from the 'birdbrained' stupidity of self-entrapment by their involvement in evil. Don't pass over the word 'evil' as some sort of abstract gray haze. Evil has many faces: disrespect toward parents, lying, cheating, laziness, anger, lust, pornography, disobedience, fighting (with fists or words), gossip, intoxication (drugs or alcohol), dishonesty, pride, chasing money, hatred, jealousy, intentionally being unfair (unjust), sexual sin, and so on....

Avoid evil.

Avoid those who do evil things.
Don't be a 'birdbrain.'

No Stupid Children

I would not advise it, but you could try it. The next time your child pushes aside your instruction or rejects your discipline, you could say that they are ‘stupid.’ Again, I would not advise it, but you could, because Solomon wrote,

   Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
   But he who hates reproof is stupid.
   --Proverbs 12:1

We often think of ‘hate’ as a reference to a seething and despicable attitude against something. We should understand that the term ‘rejection,' though seemingly mild, also fits as a synonym. Anyone who ‘rejects’ reproof (verbal correction) is stupid.

The Hebrew word behind the term ‘discipline’ includes all aspects of instruction, including: verbal instruction, demonstration, correction, re-teaching and rebuke. This same Hebrew word also includes all forms of discipline including corporal punishment. Generally, when administered, discipline is not pleasant, but it is for the good of the child. Parents, instruction and discipline are expressions of love for your child.

Instruction and discipline have the goal of instilling godly principles, proper attitudes and good behavior. Parents must instruct and discipline in such a way that their child can recognize the benefit of following instruction and accepting discipline. Harsh words do not make for good instruction. Impulsive discipline will not teach beneficial lessons. Homespun ideas that have little relevance or no basis in reality will teach a child to stop listening.

Instruction and discipline are imperative, yet children need to be trained that instruction and discipline are good for them. They need to be taught the value of loving and desiring instruction and discipline.

To do this parents must ‘tell’ their children the benefits of instruction and discipline in relation to identifiable, real-life, practical examples. In other words, after having given instruction and/or discipline, a parent should be on the lookout for a teachable moment that will illuminate the benefit of previous instruction/discipline. That moment may not be immediate; perhaps days will pass. But watch for that teachable moment.

Do not make the teachable moment an ‘I told you so’ moment. Rather, when the teachable moment arrives, point back to the instruction/discipline and explain the connection. Help them to appreciate the benefit that resulted. (You can sometimes see teachable moments in the behavior of other children.)

Over time you will find there to be less need for discipline and more times when simple instruction is all that is needed...

And your child will not be stupid.

The Stupid Woman

Hold on ladies!
Don’t get the wrong idea. This is not about women in general, just a certain kind of woman. Most likely, if you are reading this, you are not that kind of woman.

A father warns his son to avoid the ‘stupid’ woman. Who is she?
One verse says it all.

   The woman of folly is boisterous, 
   She is naïve, and knows nothing.
   --Proverbs 9:13

The term ‘folly’ in this verse literally means, stupid. Whatever she may seem to be she is, in reality, a woman of stupidity. Now, what fellow wants to pursue a relationship with a stupid woman!?

The ‘stupid’ woman is boisterous. She is described in detail in Proverbs 7 as someone who is rebellious. She is restless and does not stay at home. Instead, she lurks about in the streets looking for her next victim. Her husband is away. So she lures another man with seductive and deceptive words. She lures him to her house, to her bed that she has already prepared. A trap!

The “stupid” woman is naïve. The Hebrew term for naïve literally means “open-minded,” yet in a bad sense. The naïve person is gullible and lacks sense. You might enjoy this person at a party (as the butt of a joke), but you would never trust her as a companion.

The “stupid” woman knows nothing. She is thoughtless, breaking her commitment to God (2:7). She meanders through life without thinking, without planning, without discernment (5:6). She lives for the moment. After all, you only live once!

The last few verses in Proverbs 9 tell the end of her story, an end that she herself does not know! . . . she is a ‘stupid’ woman. 

Her end and the end of all who embrace her?
Death!

Are they not all stupid who do not follow the Lord!?