“Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.” Proverbs 29:20
Devotional Thought For The Day
It does not seem to be such a terrible thing or foolish that we provide a quick response or comment. Much in life is simple and straightforward. However, the writer is speaking about matters that require a deeper understanding or circumstances in which more than a mere answer is called for. The character that is revealed by a “hasty” response when a more nuanced and compassionate understanding is required is foolish, in perhaps a variety of ways. First, that some people are in such a rush that they fail to properly weigh the relative value of matters. Other people are too lazy to actually take in all the facts and considerations of a matter and just want to move on to something more pleasing to them. Some people think that they have already mastered all facts and wisdom and consider everyone else to be foolish and dumb. Some people are angry that it takes others time to come to the same conclusions that they do. Some people are already angry, jealous, aggrieved, and insulted that others do not understand and accept their superiority – and refuse to leave all decisions and authority in their hands.
Computers offer a helpful comparative analysis of human thinking. Some people have really fast processors and can analyze known facts quickly and spit out a “solution” with amazing speed. However, if the hard drive isn’t loaded up with all of the pertinent data and the full nexus can’t be considered, the fast answer can be quite superficial, erroneous, and even dangerous or damaging. Education remains of great value. On the other hand, some people may have loaded up the hard drive to such an extent that their processor falters and they can never come to an answer or decision. Native intellect is also of great value. Memory is also somewhat tenuous; the pathways to stored data can become corrupted or forgotten so that we can’t recall what we know we have already learned. Remembering words can be that way, or even names. All of this is frustrating – thinking clearly and with wisdom can be a very difficult thing. The wise understand this, and are slow to speak; the foolish do not understand this [or do not think that it applies to them] and therefore answer quickly.
Likewise, those who are over-confident of their own intellectual capability or education may not be aware that other things matter and may be more important than a mere “answer” or decision. What is more important, to be able to process an incredibly complex equation, or to retain and nurture relationships? What is more important, to have great intellectual capacity or to have empathy, compassion, and deep love for other people? I suppose that the circumstances and occasion may be important in answering these questions, but generally the relational issues are of greater consequence than our mental abilities. Because we reward intellectual ability monetarily, those who value wealth most highly may never even compare and contrast the value of relationships. They may not be capable of doing so. But this is the wider and deeper context and nexus of wisdom – and it transcends selfishness and our idolatrous infatuation with “self.” Great intellect and education may actually befog our minds to such a degree that we can’t even consider such things.
The same is true when it comes to our most important relationship, our relationship with God. All of the created realities are included when it comes to considering God, and while He is able to deeply bless the simplest of human beings, He is far greater and more complex than all of the most brilliant human minds put together. And in the end, all that will ultimately matter for every human being is their relationship with God – either reconciled to Him by His gracious forgiveness, mercy, and love, through repentance and faith, or in rebellion against Him because of the confusing fog of human sin and our angry inability to make sense of it or to acknowledge our falleness, culpability, and accountability to God. In our final state of bliss the “partial” things of this world – which we often consider to be of ultimate importance – will no longer matter: “As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away,” but “love never ends” [1 Cor. 13:8]. This takes time to process, as does providing genuinely loving conversation – in keeping with the truth but calculating how best to benefit others. It is not foolish just to speak, but speaking provides an abundance of opportunity to be foolish – as James warns [James 3:5-10]. Thankfully, there is also abundant forgiveness with God, and “where sin abounded, there grace abounded much more.” [Rom. 5:20]
Prayer For The Day
Dear Lord Jesus, thanks and praise be to you for the great created gifts that you have given to us of mind, intellect, memory, understanding, and wisdom. Help us to see and grieve how sin infects and perverts even these precious gifts. Grant us repentance and faith in Your gracious and merciful love, which is the beginning of wisdom. Grant us to abide in Your Word that we may know the truth, and that Your truth free our hearts and minds to greater wisdom. Amen.