Articles
Revealing Our Foolish Minds
"A fool does not delight in understanding,
But only in revealing his own mind." (Prov 18:2)
I must admit that I feel awkward writing any commentary on that verse. After all, if I am sharing thoughts and reflections on a passage that warns against the dangers of revealing one's own mind, I ought to tread carefully, lest I fall under its condemnation.
Like all biblical proverbs, this one provokes contemplation. It demands that we meditate on it and digest it. Mankind seems almost inherently predisposed to constantly want to interject his thoughts and opinions into any situation. It doesn't matter how trivial the issue is—we must have an opinion about it! And not only should we have sharp opinions about subjects which we are ill-informed about, but we must make every effort to educate the rest of the mere mortals around us when they disagree with our opinions! No one can educate us! No one can tell us something better! (I write sarcastically).
Not only are humans in love with their opinions, but they are also in love with their eloquence! Even if everyone around us agrees with us, we can say it better than they did! I was in a school library once, reading a book on biblical interpretation for research (which wasn't particularly helpful). The book had been donated to the library years ago. I was about to put the book on the shelf, I glanced at the inside cover to find a note scribbled by the previous owner: "Author preoccupied with his own magnificence." Clearly, none of us shared this preoccupation.
It is hard to find a proverb that is more relevant for the present time. The Internet, with all of the benefits it has brought in information sharing, has unfortunately also become a nesting ground for self-proclaimed experts in every subject matter to pontificate their professed "wisdom." The thoughts we have are too good [we think] not to share with the world (whether through Facebook or Twitter or some other medium). No matter what the issue is, whether it is some political controversy, or some miniscule matter of doctrine, or even medical questions, people are prepared to ardently defend the brilliant thoughts they have in their own head, while scarcely giving heed to what those around them are saying. Disagreement is almost intolerable in this environment, and the ease with which dissenters can be unfriended, blocked, or otherwise silenced has put many ordinary people into fixed "echo chambers" of confirmation bias. In an age where everything but one's own mind is censored, no one can find delight in understanding truth.
There is of course nothing wrong with having opinions and thinking for oneself. Quite the opposite! And there is nothing wrong even with sharing one's opinions. That's not the point of the proverb. Rather, the proverb here warns against the danger of thinking and believing that one has a monopoly on the truth, and thinking one's opinions are the only ones that matter. The man who only knows how to speak and not how to listen is setting himself on a path to ruin. The immediately preceding proverbs bear out this message as well:
"He who restrains his words has knowledge,
And he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise;
When he closes his lips, he is counted prudent
He who separates himself seeks his own desire,
He quarrels against all sound wisdom" (Prov 17:27-18:1).
Or as James said, "This you know, my beloved brethren. But let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger" (James 1:19).
And if we need further reminder that our magnificence isn't always worth sharing, consider Jesus. I doubt anyone could give more profound irrefutable answers to lies and false charges than Jesus ever could. None of us could hold a candle to him! Yet even the all-wise God in the flesh chose to keep silence at that critical moment, rather than to speak. "While being reviled, he did not revile in return; while suffering, he uttered no threats, but kept entrusting himself to him who judges righteously" (1 Pet 2:23).
Let us not delight in revealing just our own minds, but rather let us delight in the wisdom and understanding that comes from God!
