- Joined
- Oct 26, 2007
- Messages
- 12,538
The wise don't make a show of their knowledge, but fools broadcast their foolishness. Proverbs 12:23 NLT
Imagine you are in a classroom. The teacher asks the class to name the twentieth US president. The name Chester A. Arthur springs to mind, accompanied by an image of a stately gentleman with a mustache and muttonchops. You are about to raise your hand to answer when the teacher calls on your neighbor.
“James A. Garfield,” he says. And he’s right. Arthur was Garfield’s vice president. He became the twenty-first president when Garfield was assassinated. Sometimes it’s better to be quiet even when you think you’re right.
It’s one thing to be wrong about trivial facts. It’s another to be proven wrong about things that matter—or to make a fool of yourself. Proverbs 12:23 (today’s verse) isn’t telling you never to speak up when you have knowledge. It’s saying never to show off. There’s nothing wrong with knowing it all if you don’t act like a know-it-all.
When you broadcast foolishness—either by speaking foolishly or communicating in a foolish way—people are less likely to listen to you. Then when you want to tell people about God, your audience will tune you out.
It’s better to be silent most of the time so people listen to you when you have something important to say.
Prayer: God, may I know when to speak up and when to stay silent.
Imagine you are in a classroom. The teacher asks the class to name the twentieth US president. The name Chester A. Arthur springs to mind, accompanied by an image of a stately gentleman with a mustache and muttonchops. You are about to raise your hand to answer when the teacher calls on your neighbor.
“James A. Garfield,” he says. And he’s right. Arthur was Garfield’s vice president. He became the twenty-first president when Garfield was assassinated. Sometimes it’s better to be quiet even when you think you’re right.
It’s one thing to be wrong about trivial facts. It’s another to be proven wrong about things that matter—or to make a fool of yourself. Proverbs 12:23 (today’s verse) isn’t telling you never to speak up when you have knowledge. It’s saying never to show off. There’s nothing wrong with knowing it all if you don’t act like a know-it-all.
When you broadcast foolishness—either by speaking foolishly or communicating in a foolish way—people are less likely to listen to you. Then when you want to tell people about God, your audience will tune you out.
It’s better to be silent most of the time so people listen to you when you have something important to say.
Prayer: God, may I know when to speak up and when to stay silent.
