“Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue” (17:28). There’s some great advice! Talk less and you will get in less trouble. How often do we say foolish things just because we talk too much? I think of all those times I spouted off about matters of which I knew nothing and ended up exposing my ignorance and foolishness. Much better to admit ignorance and listen in silence. We can be so preoccupied by giving our opinions sometimes that we fail to learn where we are wrong and all we do is display our stubborn ignorance. Too many words spent in self-defence, trying to convince others of our integrity, blocks the conviction of the Holy Spirit. He wants to reveal his truth to us and show us where we are wrong. Listen more, speak less. That is wise advice. There is a lot we need to learn, and God wants to use other people to teach us. He will use the most unlikely people, even the most imperfect people, to teach us. They will show up our imperfections and we may feel put down or disrespected as a result. But the wise person will learn from these experiences rather than being defensive. If you are going to speak in response to these situations let it be to express what you are learning about yourself; let it be to confess your wrongs. Don’t be quick to take the position of the teacher. Be eager to be the learner. There is more gain in listening to the wisdom of others than putting your own wisdom on display.
Reflect on your habits of speaking and listening.
Read Proverbs 17:20-18:8
