Probing
Proverbs 12:15-16 Fools think their own way is right,
but the wise listen to others. A fool is quick-tempered, but a wise person
stays calm when insulted.
I have shared this often, but one of the
clearest memories I have is when I disobeyed my mom while she was making
cookies. She put a teaspoon of pure vanilla extract in, the smell was so
heavenly, I asked if I could taste and she said I would hate the taste. My nose
told me better…but when I snuck a mouthful it was a shocker! The contrast was a
real “waker upper!” I learned quickly the real meaning of contrast. Smell so
great, tastes so bad!
The word
Contrast is defined as: the state of being strikingly different from something
else, : to be different especially in a way that is very obvious
The differences
are important to get and can save anyone a load of regret!
The most
important difference between being foolish and wise has to do with the
foundations these ways of thinking are laid on. We need to be reminded as we
examine this Contrast:
Psalm
111:10 The fear of the Lord is the
beginning of wisdom;
Foolish
thinking operates outside the influence of God, while a person with wisdom
lives close to God.
“Fools think their own way is right,
but the wise listen to others.”
The word “way”
here covers more
than just a path:
דֶּרֶךְ Derek acts(1),
conduct(11), course(2), crooked(2), direction(4), distance(1), example(1),
favors(1), highway(4), highway(1), impulses(1), journey(37), line(1),
manner(4), mission(2), path(4), pathless(2), pathway(1), pathway(1),
practice(1), road(30), roads(5), roadway(2), safely(1), street(2), toward(33),
toward(1), walk(1), way(382), way in the direction(1), way toward(1),
ways(150), wayside(2), wherever[1]
One who
lives far from God has the entire direction of their life impacted. How they
think, their conduct, their goals…even how the path looks to them! That is because life far
from God is Dark, so the path is very poorly lit!
Contrary
to that, the individual that lives close to God, “Listens”
שָׁמַע shama
– which
incorporates these ideas: hears,
comprehends, discerns, understands, heeds, listen attentively, carefully,
closely and obediently!
So much
more than just the act of receiving what was said, their “listening”
includes “digesting and giving obedient
action” to
the counsel given! They are not looking to “be right,”
they are looking
FOR right!
The “esteem”
of someone that is
far from God is so different than the one that is close. The “fool”
must appear to be
right, so they can only see themselves in that light. The “wise”
do not look for vindication;
they seek Truth and will respond to it! The "fool" survives from
"self" esteem, which is derived from SELF, which is the problem. A
"wise" person has REAL esteem, which flows from his or her Creator.
"
A fool is quick-tempered, but a wise person stays calm when insulted."
This is
the most difficult contrast for me, because it speaks directly to my own
personal weakness! I am a "Feeler" by nature which means I process my
actions through my emotions...sadly leading to "reaction" instead of
"pro-action." The Lord has done much to teach me to be slow of temper
because the "anger" of man will not accomplish the righteousness of
God.
Those living far from God react to insult immediately, manifesting itself in hot anger. "Quick" sets the pace for unmeasured words and "vomiting" our emotions on the target of our anger. This never accomplishes anything beneficial or good! The wise person remains at peace (calm) and if you are like me this requires yielding to the Holy Spirit! Living Close to God produces a steadiness to our life.
Notice the wise person "stays" which describes the tone in this person's life, not just a moment.
What is the foundation you have built your life on? There really are only two. One is temporal, the other is eternal; God’s Word will stand forever, all other philosophies will fade as eternity swallows this temporal universe! Be wise…read the Scriptures and ask God to reveal Himself to you!
[1] Thomas, R. L. (1998). New American
Standard Hebrew-Aramaic and Greek dictionaries : Updated edition. Anaheim:
Foundation Publications, Inc.
