Gullible

An Idaho seventh grader won first place at the Greater Idaho Falls Science Fair for his project.[1] The purpose of his study was to determine how many people would outlaw a hazardous chemical if only supplied with partial information regarding its characteristics. Fifty participants were asked to sign a petition that demanded stringent control of dihydrogen monoxide. Six reasons were provided to support the elimination of this chemical.

​1.   It kills thousands each year by accidental inhalation.
2.   It can cause severe burns in the gaseous state.
3.   It is so caustic that it accelerates the rusting of metals.
4.   It contributes to erosion.
5.   It has been found in the tumors of terminal cancer patients.
6.   If a person is dependent on this chemical, complete withdrawal results in death.
Forty-three people signed the petition, six were undecided, and one knew the chemical was water.  The title of the student’s project was “How Gullible Are We?”
 
Meditation
Proverbs 14:15--The simple believe anything, but the prudent give thought to their steps. (NIV)
 
Solomon wrote a lot about foolishness, mentioning it approximately 115 times in Proverbs and Ecclesiastes.[2] He informs us of what not to do, what to avoid, or what to be wary of. 
            
We live in an era when artificial intelligence (AI) and massive online search engines provide virtually instant access to information.  Influencers disseminate news and information via podcasts and blogs. Social platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and WhatsApp disseminate vast amounts of information. While this is helpful, it can also be harmful. Why? Because too many people accept what they read as fact, what they see or hear as truth, and pass it on to others. Furthermore, those who have a predetermined opinion are inclined to believe information that aligns with their thinking as evidence (confirmation bias) without understanding and verifying the source and content. 
            
The Apostle Paul wrote, “Don’t despise prophecies, but test all things. Hold on to what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:20,21). John wrote, “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to determine if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1). We should carefully evaluate what we read, see, and hear. Test all things. Expose what is false and promote what is true. The risk of being gullible, simple-minded, and foolish is that we lose credibility, damage our reputation, and unwittingly become promoters of error. 
 
Inspiration
“Strange times are these in which we live when old and young are taught falsehoods in school.  And the person who dares to tell the truth is called a lunatic and fool.”—Plato
 
©2025 Daniel York  ARR.  Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  To receive these devotionals, go to www.firstcause.org and click the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed, subject to the inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)
 

[1] Vett, J. V., Malone, B. (2022). Without excuse: The compelling evidence for creation. Search for the Truth. October 7.
[2] The word gullible is used once in Proverbs 9:13.