Read through Proverbs in 31 days, Today’s reading is entitled “A Fool’s Mouth Leads To His Ruin”
Read Proverbs 18 – Scandalous behavior versus wise words – which of these do you practice regularly? Would those you interact with daily apply that same description? It is likely that you have heard phrases similar to “he is so smart that he can talk his way out of anything.” Depending on who you ask, this can be positively or negatively applied to a person’s attitude and actions. For instance, is it a good thing if someone has the ability to apply logic, reason and wisdom to diffuse a hostile situation? Is it also a good thing when someone else will use reason and manipulation to craft the outcome of a situation to his or her own advantage? It would certainly seem that the first circumstance illustrates the use of wisdom by an intelligent person while the other would be the words of a fool.
Let’s take a look at what morsels today’s scripture reading has in store.
- Unfriendly people, the foolish, lash out at understanding and common sense – they only want to air their own opinions.
- Scandalous behavior leads to contempt and disgrace, while wise words are like water that starts down deep and flows from a bubbling brook.
- Fools trap themselves with the words continually coming from their lips, leading to their ruin. Rumors are like choice morsels, sinking deep into the heart.
- Intelligent people are willing to learn with an open mind, they will listen to all of the facts before spouting off. The first to speak in court sounds believable until his actions and motives are questioned.
- Wise words result in satisfaction while those who love to talk will reap the consequences. A man who finds a loyal and committed wife has been given a treasure from the Lord.
It is quite likely that you have been asked “do you want the good news or the bad first?” My preference is to get the bad news out of the way first, so here we go …
There are few people fortunate enough to be able to say that they do not know someone who will argue any point to make sure their own opinions are forced upon others. Not only will they continue arguing, but they will also shoot down any differing thoughts regardless of how logical and heartfelt they may be. That approach definitely does not show friendship, understanding of others or common sense. The consistent belief is that “I am right and you are wrong, how dare you disagree with me!” Can that type of behavior be considered scandalous and disgraceful? It would certainly seem so.
In your own interactions with this type of person, you have probably noticed that he or she will continually “babble” just to keep others from being able to say anything. This type of “fool” will not even remember most of what has been said. Because of this, their own words can later be used as a trap by those who are paying attention. When in a group, this person will jump right in with an answer without pausing to consider the question being asked. As we have read in our opening for today, the intelligent person will have wise words of advice for anyone willing to hear. Those words are “like water that starts down deep” because they have been crafted with much thought and consideration. For an excellent image, you can compare the waters of wisdom to a clear artesian pool while the fool’s words are like a muddy shallow creek (and just as gritty).
