Sophomoric Christians

Second year students are called ‘sophomores.’ The word is a made-up combination from two Greek root words:  sophos which means to be wise; and moros which means to be dull or a fool. The student with a little bit of learning can become over-confident and intellectually pretentious. His knowledge is not matched with wisdom that would reveal how much more there is to know. He doesn’t know what he has yet to learn. I remember a family friend who used to rib me when I was a student calling me a ‘smart college kid.’  It wasn’t a compliment. He saw my pseudo-maturity for what it was, sophomoric!

The Bible says "if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones.  … wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you." (Proverbs 2:3-11, NIV)

I find sophomores more amusing than anything else. When they put their newly acquired knowledge on display, I listen and smile. A person who ought to have matured into real wisdom who is still being sophomoric is about as irritating as anyone or anything I can think of.  Knowledge is a great accomplishment. I do not admire ‘know nothings.’ To study and own a body of information is admirable. But, without wisdom, knowledge only creates pride. That is why the Lord tells us that insight and understanding are a treasure. James warns of being one who is only a ‘hearer’ of the Word. Be a doer of the Word, he says. Otherwise you will be a sophomoric Christian, full of head knowledge, lacking heart conviction.

Want to grow wise? In addition to praying for wisdom, receive the counsel of this word from the Word. "Become wise by walking with the wise; hang out with fools and watch your life fall to pieces." (Proverbs 13:20, The Message)