Proverbs 12:23

“One who is clever conceals knowledge,
but the mind of a fool broadcasts folly.” NRSV

I used to be a know-it-all. (Well, I might still be, but I’ve been really working on trying not to be.) You all know what I’m talking about: the kind of person who has an opinion or the “answer” for any and every subject (and who usually, by opening her mouth, puts her foot—or both feet—in it). Some people try to impress with their looks. Well, with my pug nose and sway back, that was never going to work. I clean up good, but I’ll never be what you would call a classical beauty. Some people try to impress with their strength, but I’m just an average woman and not a very good athlete at that. So, for me, it was with my brains. And boy, could I be irritating and downright rude about it.

Hopefully not any more, though it comes out at times. It’s really hard on the Internet. The anonymity and all the discussion really attract me. People like me—people who naturally gravitate toward being know-it-alls—just love discussions (e..g arguments) because it gives us a chance to show off.

Only the Bible says two things about know-it-alls. First, they aren’t clever. Truly clever people conceal their knowledge. Why? Because you learn better when your mouth is closed and your ears are open. (Something I’m just now learning). When I listen rather than talk, I usually find out that my opinion, my perspective, wasn’t necessarily right or best. It’s also awfully prideful to think that what I want to say or what I believe is the way that everyone should go. It places me in God’s position and that’s not a good place to be!

The second thing that the Bible says about know-it-alls is that when they open their mouths, they broadcast to everyone that they are fools! So, when we try to be know-it-alls, we actually accomplish just the opposite of what we intended. Rather than everyone being blown away by our wisdom and knowledge, people are impressed with how foolish we really are. There’s an old saying: “Better to be thought a fool than open your mouth and confirm the fact.”

James 1:19 tells us: “let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak.” Why? Because waiting to hear from others is a sign of humility, of considering them (and their opinions) to be better than we are. Speaking, insisting on our own way, is a definite sign of pridefulness.

I really want to be more like Jesus, to be more humble, to be more of a servant and less of a “king.” Today, I need to remember to stop my words so that I can listen more . . . to others and to God.

© 2008 Robin L. O’Hare. All Rights Reserved. International copyright reserved. This study may be copied for nonprofit and/or church purposes only without permission when copied in its entirety (including this notice).