Scripture Reference: Proverbs 10:8
“The wise in heart will RECEIVE commandments, but a prating fool shall fall.”
Some days I feel like I just can’t get enough Proverbs. I’ve gotten up to about 100 Proverbs that I’ve committed to memory, but wish I could increase that number exponentially. I try to always pray for more wisdom every day, but remain a little frustrated that it often seems slow in coming. I spend a tremendous amount of time with my incarcerated brethren about the wonderful benefits of feasting daily in Proverbs.
I was just talking with Cynthia about my message tonight, and for a moment, I forget the definition of “prating.” As we get started, let’s put it upfront. A prating fool is one who talks too much, without value or profit. They use many words, maybe even eloquent or sophisticated words, but to no real or lasting value.
The person who sincerely seeks wisdom is teachable. He recognizes that he does not know everything about everything. He longs for good counsel. By contrast, the unteachable person is coarse and hardened, so busy chattering that he doesn't take time to listen to wise counsel. As a result of his unwillingness to accept godly commandments, the "scoffer" (Proverbs 3:34) will come to a deplorable end of life.
Proverbs often contrasts the approach of those who sincerely desire wisdom to the attitude of those who refuse to learn (Proverbs 9:7–12).
James 1:19 instructs us to "Be quick to hear, slow to speak." The fact that we have two ears but only one mouth ought to remind us to heed James's instruction. When Jesus visited the home of Mary and Martha, Mary sat at His feet and listened to His teaching.
When Martha complained that Mary wasn't helping her with serving, Jesus replied, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her" (Luke 10:42).
Our verse today says, “The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.”
Wise men love to be taught. They appreciate instruction. They want to be told what to do. They will listen and do what they are directed to do. They are submissive and obedient. Solomon endeavored to teach his children many principles of wisdom, so that by applying these sacred truths, they would stand a better chance of being successful and blessed in whatever they set their hand to do.
Proverbs is a book about contrasts. Solomon made sure he spent an ample amount of time talking about that person who lacks lady wisdom, one he had no reservations in calling a fool. Why? It’s not too hard to see.
Fools do not like to be governed. They would rather talk. They like to listen to themselves talk. They want you to hear their opinions.
They pour out nonsense without letup. They complain and object. They babble. Do you know someone like this? They are the ones sitting around the table trying to get everyone’s attention by their apparent knowledge of everything. They simply don’t know when to shut their trap. I’m immediately reminded of another favorite Proverb.
Proverbs 29:11 says, “a fool, uttereth all his mind, but a wise man keeps it in till afterwards.” The New King James says it a little differently, – “A fool vents all his feelings, but a wise man holds them back.” Guess what? You don’t always have to say everything on your mind. If your wise, keep a little back.
I feel compelled to bring up an example of foolish, not well thought out speech that we will all recognize. Remember Job’s three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar. These men had come from afar and were known for their wisdom. Too bad they didn’t have the Proverbs to read before they put their wise feet right in their mouths.
It’s commonly agreed that the wisest thing they did in their entire encounter with Job, was what they did when they first came upon him in his unimaginable condition. They were so taken back, that they didn’t know what to say. So they sat down, and didn’t speak a word for an entire week.
That was the greatest kindness they could have ever shown to Job. When it was time to speak, they each had a three round discourse with Job, showing their great wisdom by letting Job know, that in some way, shape or form, he had to be in his awful condition BECAUSE OF HIS SIN. WRONG!
At one point Job had heard enough and spoke directly to his friends. He din’t mince words. Read the beginning of Job 16. Then Job answered and said, – “I have heard many such things; miserable comforters are you all! Shall your words of wind have an end? Other translations have Job calling them windbags. Notice that Job was patient, not over-reacting and cutting them off while they spoke.
Somehow Job sat and listened to their claptrap and then told them what he thought. Do you find any lessons here? The Lord himself vindicated Job right at the end of the book. In the last chapter, God spoke and said, “My wrath is aroused against you and your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has. Give thought to this story the next time you're sure you're right and are ready to light somebody up.
Years ago I remember being given some very sage advice about dating. Speak when you have something relevant to say, and keep your mouth shut when you don’t. Instead of trying to impress him or her with all your wisdom and knowledge about everything, focus your attention on asking one question after another, as if you're really interested in finding as much as you can about her.
If it’s a gal, she comes home and it dawns on her that she didn’t find out too much about her date, because he was so intent on asking her one question after another about her life.
My best advice is also what Solomon says. Be a great listener, always quick to listen, and slow to speak. Insecure people will often be found talking non-stop, while trying to impress people with what they know. For the most part, let your ears rule over your mouth and be a studious listener. If you do, others will tend to think you're smart.
Remember Proverbs 18:13, "He that answereth a matter before he heareth it – it is shame and folly unto him.” Imagine a good group of people sitting around a table. It’s non-stop chatter and everyone is yapping on and on. There’s one person at the table who has a more serious look on his face, as if he’s listening intently, taking everything in. When this person finally decides to speak up and say something, all those at the table are ready to hear what he has to say.
If you're a baby-boomer like me, you remember the classic commercial, “When EF Hutton speaks, everybody listens.” Wouldn’t you rather be like EF Hutton who has something impactful to say rather than the blabbering fools around the table who are in love with the sound of their voice?
King David was a man who chose his words carefully, He gave us some valuable advice in Psalm 141 where he told us to “Set a guard, O Lord over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips.” Nail that one and your one step higher on the wisdom ladder.
Once you have something to say, and you’ve thought through how you are going to say it, then do just that, but more often than not it’s the guy sitting around saying little or nothing that people will pay attention to. One more Proverb that specifically backs this up, before moving on. How about Proverbs 17:28….”Even a fool when he holdeth his peace is counted wise, and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.” Get your memory card out for that one.
But consider well! There is more to this proverb than just a description of character – wise men will receive instruction; fools would rather talk themselves. There is a rule of success and failure here. Fools will fail and fall because of their character faults, and wise men will advance over them by their willingness to hear instruction and improve.
Noble men are thankful for someone to teach them wisdom and truth. Luke described the Bereans as noble for their receptive hearing of Paul (Acts 17:11). Israel under Nehemiah was eager and thankful to hear the Word of God taught to them, even though it raised a commandment that had not been kept in 1000 years (Neh 8:1-18). Consider both spirits.
But many fools would rather prattle and chatter about their own ideas, opinions, and experiences. A prating fool is one who talks too much, without value or profit. They use many words, maybe even eloquent or sophisticated words, but to no real or lasting value. Get away from such people! They are going to fall, and they will take down those near them. They know nothing but that they love the sound of their own voice and words.
Measure your wisdom and your future life right now. Do you love to be taught, or would you rather teach? Do you love to listen, or would you rather talk? Do you think you can do it your way and be successful? Do not deceive yourself in these questions, for your prosperity and success depend on your honest assessment and absorbing the lesson.
Are others improved and made better by your speech, or do you fill the air with noise? Does your correspondence change lives, or is it merely a lot of blustery hot air? Do others ask your opinion, or do you give it without others asking? Are you wise, or a prating fool? Others know. Do you know? Stop talking. Start listening. Success is coming.
A prating fool may be a good typist, so you get long, profitless emails, rather than cauliflower ear from the telephone. Either way it is the prattle of a fool – lots of words saying nothing. The source is the same – a heart in love with itself, rather than a heart humbly craving to learn. May God save you from being, or hearing, a self-loving man.
Parents correct this foolish trait by teaching children their proper place. A foolish mother will dote on her children’s words and opinions, and then wonder why she has a family of prating fools. The old adage is still wise – children should be seen, not heard. Their opinions are often worthless; their words in the presence of others should be few. Human nature being what it is, such children will still talk too much when they are older.
So, dear friend, are you quick to speak? Or are you quick to hear? Do you expect others to believe and obey you? Are you quicker to believe and obey them? Here you have an important test of your character and soul. Are you wise in the sense of this proverb? If you like to talk, you are in trouble. If you value your opinions, you are in trouble.
Of course, every man thinks his own opinions are better than others’. But wisdom knows this delusion of the human mind is from hell, motivated by the devil, and from a deceitful and desperately wicked human heart (Jeremiah 17:9). The most foolish man on earth, the one without hope of recovery, is the one conceited about his own ideas (Proverbs 26:12; 29:20).
Wisdom despises your own ideas (Proverbs 30:1-3; I Corinthians 3:18-20). Wisdom cuts words in half (Proverbs 17:27-28; Ecclesiastes 5:2). Wisdom speaks slowly (Proverbs 29:20; James 1:19). Wisdom wants to be taught by God’s teachers – parents and pastors (Proverbs 1:8; 4:1-4; Malachi 2:7). Wisdom only speaks when it has valuable, right, and certain things to say. Otherwise, silence is golden.
Solomon is telling us here that It is impossible to teach a prating fool. Before you finish a sentence or paragraph, they want to give you twenty or thirty paragraphs of their own. While you are speaking, they are antsy, preoccupied with their thoughts, and chafing to be able to speak again.
These miserable wretches cannot say they are sorry or wrong, for they presume infallibility. It never registers that others do not want their opinions, for they also presume popularity.
Prating fools are as obvious as a loud siren. Listen for chatter. Look for quick opinions on every subject. You found him! You found her! Some have an answer for everything; some talk over everyone else; some do not believe in silence, ever. They are prating fools, and it is a holy privilege of wise men to identify and avoid them (3 John 1:9-10).
A man married to a prating fool runs to the housetop or wilderness to escape the endless noise of questions, suggestions, corrections, reminders, anecdotes, and other belches from his wife (Proverbs 19:13; 27:15-16).
The man who knew the most about women warned men to reject talkative women (Proverbs 11:16; 30:21-23; 31:26). Christian woman, if you have any wisdom at all, covet a meek and quiet spirit (I Peter 3:3-4). Receive the commandment!
Can you discover more about this prating enemy of sanity? They love the word, “But”. Listen for it. No matter what you say, they counter it with, “But.” They must get their two cents into the conversation. After five minutes of mindless ramblings, you realize they were always bankrupt, without two cents of sense, and you will avoid them in the future.
If there is no reflection on what you have said, but rather an immediate verbal response of their own, without much acknowledgement or submission to what you have said, you have found a prating fool. Make sure you are not one, and do not waste time with one.
Now forget the prating fool. He is going to fall, under the heavy blows of the Most High and the rejection of all good men. Are you wise in heart? Dear friend, this is the question. Are you wise in heart? Do you fit the description in the first half of the proverb?
Wise hearts are also very obvious. They love to receive the commandments of God and those He has put in positions of authority. Do you obey and honor your parents? Do you receive and obey their commandments? Do you recognize and realize your responsibility to spread the message of the Gospel to any and all who are willing to listen.
If ever there was a time to open your mouth and to be the one speaking, it is when you are offering the life-changing message of the cross. Do you love to hear preaching, so you can learn something else you should be doing to please God and men? Are you wise in heart?
As sure as the fool’s ruin is the result of his rejection of instruction, so your humble hearing and obeying of instruction will bring promotion from God and man. Do you grasp God and Solomon’s lesson here?
Proverbs is a book of wisdom for your success. Here is the winning formula for prosperity: listen to God’s word and those in authority over you and obey their superior knowledge and counsel. You will soon be rewarded. May it be Oh Lord, that your children would have ears to listen, and a sanctified mouth to speak in due season. Amen.
From: Fight the Good Fight of Faith & Life Journal: By Gregg Harris
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