Proverbs 18:2. A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.
Are you a fool? Of course we’d all love to be able to answer this with a resounding NO. But then we read a verse like Proverbs 18:2.
This proverb describes so many of us, not to mention our culture at large. Social media and main stream media both are far more consumed with the expression of opinions over facts, that they are both turning us into a society of fools.
The phrase expressing his opinion can also be translated as “revealing his own mind,” or “displaying who he really is.” The verb expressing is used in only one other place in the Old Testament, Genesis 9, where Noah “reveals” his nakedness while drunk. You see, when all we do is go around expressing our opinions we reveal just how “naked’ we are. The person who only speaks in opinions reveals their own folly. Ironically, the fool thinks they are impressing others with these opinions, but the sad truth is that they are only exposing their own stupidity.
How can you spot this kind of fool? How can you spot this kind of foolishness in yourself? Well, one way is to take notice of how often you interrupt others. The fool can’t wait for the other person to stop talking so that they can inject their two cents. Another way to spot this kind of foolishness is by paying attention to what you are thinking about when others are talking. Are you formulating your response or your next statement while the other person is talking? Or are you actually listening to what they are saying?
The wise one has learned to limit their expression of opinions. Instead they truly desire to understand other people. They take pleasure in knowing what others think and what makes them tick. The wise person listens for understanding. They ask guiding questions in order to understand more. They don’t hand out advice from their opinions, but rather hand out truth from God’s word.
Of course Jesus was the wisest person to ever live. He never exposed his foolishness by spouting off opinions. In fact, Jesus didn’t really have opinions, he had truth. He IS truth. He had the Spirit living in him, guiding him into all truth. He only said what the Father told him to say. He quoted scripture rather than just “speaking his own mind.” He took great pleasure in understanding others, listening to them, asking them questions that exposed their hearts.
This is the kind of heart we all need if we are ever going to become the spiritual friends and disciple makers that Christ wants us to be. And in Christ we can be. In Christ we too have the Holy Spirit guiding us into truth, THE Truth, Jesus. In Christ we have the holy scriptures, truth in the written word, at our fingertips and in our hearts. In Christ, we have the words of the Father in us waiting to be revealed. And in Christ we have his meek and lowly character that no longer needs to express our own opinions in order to impress or dominate. Rather we have his patience, love, and humility that are way more concerned with winning the person than they are with winning an argument.
You: How much of your conversations is you expressing your opinions.
You in Christ: How does trusting your union with Christ allow you to reject your own opinions and rather embrace the truth of Christ’s life and love as your talking points instead?
Christ in you: How can you practice active listening and guiding in your conversations today, rather than just the exchange of opinions back and forth?
Pray: Father, you are truth not opinion! Help me to express you in Christ far more than I express my own thoughts or opinions. Amen.
To Live is Christ 