You’re smarter than a fifth grader if . . .
Mar. 13, 2008
Are you smarter than a fifth grader?
You might be, if you maintain your integrity, a pure heart, and are true to God.
That was the message members of the Montezuma High School chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes were given during their huddle meeting Thursday evening in the Presbyterian Family Center.
The meeting began with a game patterned after the popular TV show. Selected high school students were asked up to eight questions, and had help from a pair of fifth grade boys.
The high school students could win cash prizes – from 25 cents to 25 dollars – although none made it that far by answering all eight questions correctly.
After the game, adult huddle leader John Bushong talked to the students.
“If God were to say to you, ‘Ask for whatever you want,’ what would you ask for?” Bushong asked.
Some students said money for college. Some said they would ask to go to heaven. One said he would ask for $300 million.
“This did happen,” Bushong said. “Solomon – it happened to him, about 3,000 years ago. His father was David, king of Israel, and after Solomon took over as king, God appeared to him.”
“Solomon asked for wisdom,” Bushong said.
“Solomon asked God to help him know what is right and just.”
“God said, ‘I will also give you wealth, power and a long life, and things you didn’t ask for. Just do what I ask you to do.’ And God kept His promise,” Bushong said. “Solomon was wiser than any man on earth. He was probably the wisest person of all time.”
“During Solomon’s reign, Israel was not at war for the only time in its history,” Bushong said. “Solomon and Israel had great wealth. He built the temple of God in Jerusalem.”
“Solomon was the Bill Gates and Albert Einstein of his era, all rolled into one.”
“God asked Solomon to maintain his integrity, a pure heart and to be true to God,” Bushong said. “He told him that if he did those things, his family would have a king on the throne in Israel forever.”
“But Solomon couldn’t handle it all,” Bushong said. “But God is patient. He wants you to succeed.”
“But the problem was that Solomon loved foreign women. He had 700 wives and 300 concubines. His heart was not fully devoted to God.”
“Being the smartest or the richest isn’t necessarily bad,” Bushong said.
“The president of a Bible college was asked once, ‘How can I be a successful preacher?’”
“His answer was: ‘Love God, love people and don’t do stupid things.’”
“Some of you will do great things,” Bushong told the students. “Do them for God. Because the world will steer you the other way. And suffering, away from God for all eternity, would be a painful experience.”
The students then adjourned for chocolate pie, brought in from the Montezuma Sale Barn café.
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