If you are a born-again, church attending, Bible-reading believer there are certain things you should know…if you don’t already know.

If you’ve heard certain truth but are not living that truth. . .then you’ve made a conscious decision to be stupid.

For the record, the definition of stupid is knowing what to do or believe but not doing it.

Here are seven stupid things…spiritually speaking.

First, doing the same thing over and over but expecting a different result.

We can’t keep living in the past. . .while expecting our future to be better.

No question about it…we must release to the past to seek a better future.  Remember, these two words. . .release and seek.

Proverbs 29:18 in the Amplified Bible says:

“Where there is no vision [no redemptive revelation of God], the people perish; but he who keeps the law [of God, which includes that of man]—blessed (happy, fortunate, and enviable) is he.”

I’ve never seen anyone have a vision of the past.  No need to. . .we’ve already had to deal with the reality of what happened.

We must stop doing what we’ve been doing if we want to receive a God-given vision of the future.

The Apostle Paul offers great advice in Philippians 3:13 in the Amplified Bible which says:

“I do not consider, brethren, that I have captured and made it my own [yet]; but one thing I do [it is my one aspiration]: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead.”

Second, expecting a financial harvest without putting a seed in the ground.

We have to sow money before we’ll ever get a financial harvest.

Why does the Bible say we should give?

First, it is an act of worship; a reasonable response to all God has done for us.

2 Corinthians 8:8-9 says:

“For you are becoming progressively acquainted with and recognizing more strongly and clearly the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ (His kindness, His gracious generosity, His undeserved favor and spiritual blessing), [in] that though He was [so very] rich, yet for your sakes He became [so very] poor, in order that by His poverty you might become enriched (abundantly supplied).”

Second, our giving must reflect more than just lip service.

Matthew 6:21 in the Amplified Bible says:

“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

Third, we should give because the Lord Jesus and his apostles taught us to give.

2 Corinthians 8:7 in the Amplified Bible says:

“Since you excel in so many ways—in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us—I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving.”

 Fourth, in the Scriptures God promises rewards for giving.

Luke 12:33 in the Amplified Bible says:

“Sell what you possess and give donations to the poor; provide yourselves with purses and handbags that do not grow old, an unfailing and inexhaustible treasure in the heavens, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.”

Fifth, the Bible is a book of absolutes.

The promises and principles of God are not conditional. . .based on your circumstances and situations.

Here is an absolute. . .

If you sow. . .you will reap.

Conversely, if you don’t sow. . .you won’t reap.

And what you sow. . .that is what you reap.

As my fine wife Bev says “seed left in the barn will never produce a harvest in the field.”

Third, believing God will answer your prayer when you have unforgiveness in your heart.

Psalm 66:18 says:

“If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.”

If you have offense against anyone else. . .God will not hear your prayers.

I personally think that scripture says it all. . .however, I feel impressed to go a little further.

Matthew 5:23-24 in the Message Bible says:

"This is how I want you to conduct yourself in these matters. If you enter your place of worship and, about to make an offering, you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you, abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right. Then and only then, come back and work things out with God.”

The scripture is quite clear. . .if you have unforgiveness in your heart. . .go make it right even before giving an offering.  The scripture clearly states that our offering will be hindered if there is offense in our hearts.  It is so important that the scripture says to drop everything and deal with it immediately!

I think it’s also significant that it says the offended person should go seek out the person who has a grudge against them.

The Word is clear. . .it’s absolutely stupid to think God will hear our prayers when we have an offense or unforgiveness toward others.

Fourth, not caring for the widows, orphans and poor.

James 1:27 says:

“External religious worship [religion as it is expressed in outward acts] that is pure and unblemished in the sight of God the Father is this: to visit and help and care for the orphans and widows in their affliction and need, and to keep oneself unspotted and uncontaminated from the world.”

Pure religion is caring for the widows and orphans in their affliction and not letting the world’s view sway your belief system.

The way I read the scriptures . . . helping the widows and the orphans is not optional.  Rather it is the example of Christian love and compassion we show the world.

In fact, God is pretty serious about how we treat the widows and orphans.  God even ordained certain laws to protect the widows and orphans.

Exodus 22:22-24 in the Message Bible says:

"Don't mistreat widows or orphans. If you do and they cry out to me, you can be sure I'll take them most seriously; I'll show my anger and come raging among you with the sword, and your wives will end up widows and your children orphans.”

I’d say that God is fairly serious in His desire for His children to care for the widows and orphans.

Fifth, thinking that God doesn’t keep a record of what you think and do.

Ecclesiastes 12:14 in The Message Bible says:

“And that’s it. Eventually God will bring everything that we do out into the open and judge it according to its hidden intent, whether it’s good or evil.”

Matthew 12:36 in the Amplified Bible says:

“But I tell you, on the day of judgment men will have to give account for every idle (inoperative, nonworking) word they speak.”

Romans 14:12 says:

“So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.”

However, once we ask for forgiveness of our sins. . .the records are wiped away by the blood of the Lamb. 

In the Old Testament the blood covered our sins.  In the New Testament our sins are washed away. . .forgiven and forgotten.

Hebrews 8:12 in the New Living Translation says:

“And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.”

It’s stupid. . .to think God will forget your sins. . .unless you’ve been born again and are living a righteous life.

Sixth, not being a good and faithful steward.

Everybody is accountable for their stewardship of the money they’ve been entrusted with where it’s a large or small amount.  To think otherwise is not only stupid. . .but can change where a person spends eternity.

Matthew 25:27 in the Amplified Bible says:

“Then you should have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received what was my own with interest.”

How does God view our failure to be a good and faithful steward.

Matthew 25:30 in the Contemporary English Version says:

“You are a worthless servant, and you will be thrown out into the dark where people will cry and grit their teeth in pain.”

Luke 19:24 in the Contemporary English Version says:

“Then he said to some other servants standing there, "Take the money away from him and give it to the servant who earned ten times as much."

So here’s the bottom line. . .if you’re not faithful with what God has entrusted to your stewardship. . .He will take what you have and give it to someone who will.

Seventh, believing that what God’s done for others. . .He won’t do for you.

Do you believe that Acts 10:34 is the whole truth and nothing but the truth?

“Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons.”

The New International Version of Acts 10:34 says:

“Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism.”

Acts 10:34 in the Message Bible is even clearer:

“Peter fairly exploded with his good news: "It's God's own truth, nothing could be plainer: God plays no favorites! It makes no difference who you are or where you're from—if you want God and are ready to do as he says, the door is open.”

Are you confident beyond a shadow of a doubt that your Heavenly Father is no respecter of persons. . . what He’s done for one believer. . .He will do for you?

I trust your answer would be an emphatic “YES.”  Truth be told. . .anyone who doubts Acts 10:34 is a hamburger short of a Happy Meal or just spiritually stupid.

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