Dim Decisions

“Dim” means not so bright. When dim precedes the word decision, it means “not so bright idea.” I suppose that we have all made dim decisions. It may have been an auto purchase, or a necktie, or a combination everything on your pizza. It’s just human nature to do your research, and still make a bad decision.

But some people seem to excel at being dimwitted. They are the ones that make the evening news and go viral on Twitter. Here are some dimwits that made a public spectacle of themselves. Avoid them!

First we have a dimwit football player from the University of Iowa. He was arrested for public intoxication after he jumped into a police car that he thought was an Uber ride. He did receive a free ride to the city jail, plus court costs and fines.

Then there is the teenage intruder in Palo Alto, California. He broke into a home around midnight with a black t-shirt covering his face. When the homeowner confronted him, the inept burglar said he just wanted the home WiFi passcode.

You must have read about a young man named Tommy, from Shreveport, Louisiana. Tommy broke into a local residence, and stole two cell phones and some cash. To celebrate, Tommy spent the evening having fun downtown. Using one of the cell phones, he took many pictures of the festivities. Unknown to Tommy, however, every picture was being uploaded to the victims icloud storage. Tommy was captured a short time later. Dimwit.

Lastly, I mention fifteen year old Kyland from Indianapolis, Indiana. He and his equally dimwitted buddy, decided to participate in the “Hot Water Challenge.” While everyone else was using ice water, they thought it would be a neat idea to use boiling water instead. Kyland will probably have scars from the scalding water on his back for most of his lifetime.

As a student of the Bible, I recall several ancient characters who made equally dimwitted decisions. Consider Nabal in 1 Samuel 25. He was a man of great wealth and prosperity. David’s army had protected Nabal from robbers and enemy armies. When David’s men made a simple request, Nabal insulted David and embarrassed him in the countryside. He showed no gratitude, only disdain. Had it not been for a brilliant wife, Nabal would have become less than a memory when David finished with him.

Do you remember the two dimwits who married (Acts 5)? Ananias and Sapphira so wanted to impress their friends that they thought nothing of lying to the Holy Spirit. Their sudden deaths are a sober testimony to what God thought of their silly decision.

Let me finish this study of dim decisions by using the example of the New Testament Peter. The good news is that he changed from an unwise man into a great man of God. But there were several potholes on the freeway to Apostleship. This brief story provides hope for all of us.

In Matthew 17, Peter accompanies Jesus to the Mount of Transfiguration. Suddenly, the Presence of God descended upon Jesus, and His face radiated the glory of God. Moses and Elijah appeared and had a conversation with Jesus. It was overwhelming for Peter. In awe and human error Peter blurts out a very bad idea in verse 4, “Let us make three tabernacles; one for [Jesus], one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

Peter’s moment of dimwitted asininity was interrupted by the Voice of God who succinctly clarified that Jesus alone was equal to God. Build no tabernacles to humans. Listen only to Jesus.

Bottom line: Be very careful with your novel ideas. God has said, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my way (Isaiah 55:8).” We must seek the heart of God before we blurt out our big scheme. Otherwise, you may go viral for all the wrong reasons!