As mentioned in the previous weeks, we’re trying to find some parallels between the Wizard of Oz and real life. The last of the three characters I want to talk about is the Scarecrow. The Scarecrow wanted a brain. The moral of the story is that these characters already possessed what they were looking for. They just had to look inside themselves.
Too often we see our cups half-full. We always think we lack in some way or another. The lies of Satan and the world will always tell us we’re not good enough or we’ll never amount to anything. And in many ways, we are like the cowardly Lion looking for courage, the Tinman seeking a heart (passion) and the Scarecrow who wanted a brain (wisdom).
When looking for wisdom we must always be aware of the lies of the world. The book of Judges shows us what happens when we have no moral or civil standards. People will always do what seems right in their own eyes. That is what we call Relativism. Relativism says, there are no absolute truths so we must weigh out situations and circumstances and choose what is best at the moment. When that happens, our empirical and rational senses kick in and we’ll choose the best choice based on that criteria. That’s what we’ve discussed in one of our previous posts. However, when revelation kicks in we are able to make decisions according to the Spirit. That’s the beauty of freewill. I get to choose what to believe. If left to my own experiences and rational thinking I will be like the rest of the world on a boat without a paddle tossed and turned by every wind of teaching floating on a sea of relativism. But with the Holy Spirit, I think and behave differently than the rest of the world.
The Wizard of Oz story ends where it seems as though they will all live happily ever after. The Scarecrow gets a diploma and he is left in charge of the Emerald City. You and I know that a diploma is not all that is needed to run a city. We’ve seen the problems in government when we think all that is needed is an education. We need something more than that.
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Pr 1:7)
True wisdom comes from the Lord. If seeking wisdom, the best place to start is in Proverbs and work your way through the entire Bible. The Bible has transformed millions of lives. It teaches us about God and who we are as a people. It teaches us about creation and how to live with and treat others. It shows us that God has a plan, He is in control and there is something more waiting for us after this life. However, the only way we can understand the Bible is through Revelation which comes through the Holy Spirit. Without revelation we become relativistic in thought and action.
Take some time to think through your thought process for making decisions. Are you making choices based on the world’s influences? Do you rely most on your past experiences, tangible objects or rational thinking? Do you trust more in your intuition and traditions that have been passed down from generation to generation? Or, do you rely on God’s word and trusting Him with all your heart in faith? Remember Christian, like the moral of the story, you already possess it (courage, passion and wisdom), you just have to look inside yourself and allow the Spirit of God to lead you. That’s the beginning of true wisdom.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Pr 3:5-6)
Too often we see our cups half-full. We always think we lack in some way or another. The lies of Satan and the world will always tell us we’re not good enough or we’ll never amount to anything. And in many ways, we are like the cowardly Lion looking for courage, the Tinman seeking a heart (passion) and the Scarecrow who wanted a brain (wisdom).
When looking for wisdom we must always be aware of the lies of the world. The book of Judges shows us what happens when we have no moral or civil standards. People will always do what seems right in their own eyes. That is what we call Relativism. Relativism says, there are no absolute truths so we must weigh out situations and circumstances and choose what is best at the moment. When that happens, our empirical and rational senses kick in and we’ll choose the best choice based on that criteria. That’s what we’ve discussed in one of our previous posts. However, when revelation kicks in we are able to make decisions according to the Spirit. That’s the beauty of freewill. I get to choose what to believe. If left to my own experiences and rational thinking I will be like the rest of the world on a boat without a paddle tossed and turned by every wind of teaching floating on a sea of relativism. But with the Holy Spirit, I think and behave differently than the rest of the world.
The Wizard of Oz story ends where it seems as though they will all live happily ever after. The Scarecrow gets a diploma and he is left in charge of the Emerald City. You and I know that a diploma is not all that is needed to run a city. We’ve seen the problems in government when we think all that is needed is an education. We need something more than that.
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Pr 1:7)
True wisdom comes from the Lord. If seeking wisdom, the best place to start is in Proverbs and work your way through the entire Bible. The Bible has transformed millions of lives. It teaches us about God and who we are as a people. It teaches us about creation and how to live with and treat others. It shows us that God has a plan, He is in control and there is something more waiting for us after this life. However, the only way we can understand the Bible is through Revelation which comes through the Holy Spirit. Without revelation we become relativistic in thought and action.
Take some time to think through your thought process for making decisions. Are you making choices based on the world’s influences? Do you rely most on your past experiences, tangible objects or rational thinking? Do you trust more in your intuition and traditions that have been passed down from generation to generation? Or, do you rely on God’s word and trusting Him with all your heart in faith? Remember Christian, like the moral of the story, you already possess it (courage, passion and wisdom), you just have to look inside yourself and allow the Spirit of God to lead you. That’s the beginning of true wisdom.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Pr 3:5-6)