Proclamation:
"A fool finds no
pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions ... The words
of a man's mouth are deep waters, but the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling
brook." Proverbs 18:2-4 (NIV)
Explanation:
These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit
of God by King Solomon, the wisest man to ever live. Here Solomon teaches the people that a fool
is not interested in gaining understanding, all he wants to do is express his
own opinion. Whereas the words of a wise
man express his deep and seemingly inexhaustible wisdom and understanding.
Application:
It seems that some people just like to hear themselves talk, even when they have nothing substantial to say. A conversation with a fool is a waste of time. (Proverbs 14:7 and 26:4) Know your audience, some people are not interested in the truth or learning anything new. Some people will engage us in a conversation just to express their preformed opinions and often do not really want to hear a different point of view. Before we speak, we should make sure that we know what we are talking about. We should also make sure that what we say is adding something of value to the conversation. Those who hear us should benefit from our words. Knowledge, understanding, and wisdom are essential for effective communication and for sharing The Word of God. "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding." (Proverbs 4:7) If you are not sure that you know something, be quiet and listen, and then verify what you have heard. The Bible records in 2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV) that we should "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." We need to study The Word of God so that we can understand it and correctly explain it to others. We should know what we are talking about before we speak. It is never a good idea to simply repeat hearsay or offer an unsubstantiated opinion.
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