Proverbs 10:8 & 12:15
The wise of heart will receive commandments, but a babbling fool will come to ruin.
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice. (ESV)
A friend of mine is fond of saying, “All of us is smarter than any one of us.” That makes a lot of sense. I already know what I know. I don’t know all that you know. But, when we put our brains together, something amazing can happen.
Everywhere else in the Bible, we are instructed that it’s better to give than to receive (Acts 20:35). Here is a rare instance of God’s Word advising us to take in more than we give out. The more ideas, knowledge, advice and experience that we take in, the better opportunity we have to make good decisions and offer good advice to others.
The opposite of being wise is being a fool. That seems like a strong word. The dictionary doesn’t make “fool” sound any better: “a silly or stupid person; a person who lacks judgment or sense.”[1] Do your best to avoid turning your thoughts to fools you might know.
The antidote for foolishness is found in these verses. The wise person receives instruction and listens to advice. The fool is right in his own eyes and babbles. Our challenge it seems is to shut up and listen up. We’ll seem wiser already.
Copyright © 2009 by Allen White
Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible: English Standard Version, copyright © 2001, Wheaton: Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
[1] http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/fool Accessed October 7, 2009 at 10:31 am EST.
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