Wise or fool

DEVOTION

PROVERBS

WISE OR FOOL

Prov 29:9

9 If a wise man goes to court with a fool, the fool rages and scoffs, and there is no peace.

NIV

This is not just about being in a court of law, or having a legal matter arbitrated between a wise man and a foolish one. How often do we find ourselves in a court of law with a fool? However, this bears true in all social intercourse. Where can there be peace between the wise and the fool? This may well bring into the play the principle of not being unequally yoked. What does the righteous have in common with the unrighteous? Yet there is also this idea of simple conversation.  It is difficult to know what to say, when to say, in what manner to say, in what company of people we should say it and when to remain silent. A wise person will know the answer to this while the mouth of the fool simply gushes forth with all sorts of foolish talk that does not promote any peace at all.  Maybe this is why we are not very fond of small talk, especially about subjects of little to no relevance to life itself of any of the people engaged in such babble. Why do we feel it necessary to talk about subjects of little value? Why do we feel we have to talk about something rather than simply enjoying the being in each other’s presences? So often subjects of substance are forbidden topics in a group of people. This may be the time for the wise tongue stay silent so there can be at least some resemblance of peace. If no real conversation is to be had, then no conversation is to be had. Talking to hear ones voice or to appear knowledgeable regarding some wasteful information is nothing more than this gushing of folly which has nothing to do with peace.  That may sound harsh, but is it not true? What concern should we have about people in the arena of professional sports, entertainment or big business tycoons or Politicians? Why should we be a fan of these type people knowing every aspect of their lives? What value does that kind of knowledge have? Is it not folly? The value of life is certainly important. The value of those who we actually engage life with has importance. God values all of his creation and it would be wise for us to speak truth into the lives of those we actually are engaged in life with, speaking words that bring peace. This should be spoken with love, with concern for those we know need to hear sound speech, which contains words that bring life, rather than foolishness. Our Lord has told us the greatest of all commands.

Matt 22:36-40

36 "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"

37 Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'   38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'   40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." 

NIV

This is wisdom, this is a wise mouth who speaks these kind of words with this kind of heart, to our neighbors, those we actually live life with.  The fool simply gushes folly. Let us be not the fools tongue, but the wise one.