A Year of Choices…
By Barbara Dahlgren from Barbara’s Banter at www.barbdahlgren.com
Proverbs has a lot to say about fools and none of it is good. Here is just a sample…
- Proverbs 1:7 – Fools despise wisdom and instruction.
- Proverbs 23:9 – Fools despise wisdom.
- Proverbs 16:22 – Fools do not listen to instruction.
- Proverbs 12:23 – Fools don’t know how to keep their mouths shut.
- Proverbs 13:16 – Fools don’t know how to keep their mouths shut.
- Proverbs 14:33 – Fools don’t know how to keep their mouths shut.
- Proverbs 29:11 – Fools don’t know how to keep their mouths shut.
- Proverbs 18:2 – Fools love to give their opinions to others even when they don’t know what they are talking about.
- Proverbs 18:13 – Fools think they know everything.
- Proverbs 28:26 – Fools think they know everything.
- Proverbs 12:15 – Fools don’t listen to advice.
And the list goes on and on. I think we can see the pattern. Fools are those who won’t listen to instruction, shoot their mouths off, and think they know everything. Do you know anyone like that????
These “fools” are not uneducated, stupid or dumb. Actually most have just enough knowledge to make them wise in their own eyes. However, these “know-it-alls” are not teachable. They do not want to be confused with the facts. They do not want to listen to the voice of reason. They will gladly give us their opinions but do not value ours. They are a pain to be around!
I don’t think anyone wants to be considered a fool. Therefore, we want to be teachable. We want to be open to God’s instruction and wisdom. (Proverbs 3:5-7)
God is very big on us being teachable. We have a lot to learn and are blessed when we let God instruct us. (Psalm 94:12) God instructs us through scripture. (2 Timothy 3:16) He has also given the church pastors and teachers with certain gifts used for “perfecting of the saints.” (Ephesians 4:11-13) This “perfecting of the saints” is just a way of saying as we learn God’s ways we grow in grace, godly knowledge, and spiritual maturity. This equips us to minister or help others. “Know-it-alls” have a hard time ministering to others because no one wants to be around them. They have no credibility with others because no one wants to listen to what they have to say.
We have probably encountered highly intelligent “know-it-alls” who think there is no God. God calls them foolish. (Psalm 14:1) However I think church going “know-it-alls” who do believe in God are the worst. They come to church out of obligation, but sermons really don’t apply to them because they know it all. They are more interested in biblical genealogies, archeological findings, and prophesy rather than learning how to enhance a daily walk with God. Since they know it all, they love to solve everyone’s problem. They talk a lot to share their insights with others and rarely listen. They are critical not constructive. They are impatient. They cannot relate to the struggles of others. After all, they are more interested in hermeneutics, exegesis, and “unpacking” the latest biblical theory. They love feeling superior to others. However, the main point of scriptural knowledge is to point us to Jesus Christ, not to make us feel superior to others. (John 5:39, 40)
Consider this… Those who think they know anything do not know what they need to know. (1 Corinthians 8:2) In other words we need to be teachable.
There is danger in being wise in our own eyes. (Isaiah 5:21; Proverbs 3:7) We can’t afford to have a pumped up opinion of ourselves. God wants us to walk humbly. God wants us to be teachable.
Suggestions for practicing this choice…
- Talk less; listen more.
- Resist the temptation to always be right or prove your point. Life is not a debate.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for directions.
- Being teachable does not mean being gullible. It doesn’t mean you accept every new idea that comes along or every bit of advice offered. Being teachable means learning how to evaluate and check what is being taught with what the Bible says.
- Study God’s Word and look for ways to apply it to your life, not to the lives of others.
