Four men were in a plane: the president of the United States, a college professor, a preacher, and a youth with a backpack. Engine trouble developed. The pilot announced that the motors flamed out. He further announced that there were only three parachutes for the passengers. A discussion was held among the four over who should get the parachutes. The president said that he should get one because the nation depended on his leadership. The professor argued that since she was the brightest, she should get a parachute. This left two in the plane. The youth began to laugh. The preacher asked why she was laughing at such a serious time. The youth explained, “The professor left with my backpack!” Obviously, in this case at least, intelligence was not the same as wisdom.

The words of our text we…