A Wise Fool?
Even a fool is thought wise if he
keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue. (Proverbs 17:28)
Have you
ever caught yourself, stopping just short of saying something that you might
regret for the rest of your life? There is wisdom in showing restraint in our
words, especially as we live during a time of tension and uncertainty.
The Book
of Proverbs takes extraordinary pains to discuss the perils of a person who is incapable
of controlling their tongue. This 17th chapter is no exception, and
the title of “fool” is reserved for them, reflecting the state of their heart. Here
are a few examples:
A wicked man listens to evil lips;
a liar pays attention to a malicious tongue. (v.4)
Arrogant lips are unsuited to a
fool – how much worse lying lips to a ruler! (v. 7)
Better to meet a bear robbed of her
cubs than a fool in his folly.
(v. 12)
A man of perverse heart does not
prosper; he whose tongue is deceitful falls into trouble. (v. 20)
The
opposite of is to be careful with our words; to use them to build people up,
rather than tear down. Such a person is called wise and reaps an expected
harvest; respect of those around them.
A man of knowledge uses words with
restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered. Even a fool is thought
wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue. (v. 27-28)
We live in
a culture where we are told to “just say what you think.” It’s a world where
verbal diarrhea is rewarded by followers in the Twittersphere. But this is not
the way of wisdom, nor the path of a person who fears the Lord.
Jesus
spoke of this in Matthew 12:34 and 36: For
out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks … But I tell you that you
will have to give account on the day of judgement for every careless word you
have spoken.
The wisdom
of the Proverbs stands true; I’d rather run into a bear!
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