The Fool (Part 9)

The Fool

There are 36 references to the word fool in Proverbs alone and over 80 references when you consider its derivatives.  Most of Proverbs deals with comparisons between two people, the wise and the foolish. 

Here is the 9^th mention of the word fool in the book of Proverbs.

Proverbs 10:8 (KJV) ⁸ The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.

The wise man recognizes good advice and accepts it. The fool is impervious to any advice.  The word prating means lips and is reference to one who talks nonstop.  The fool is one who is so busy talking that he doesn’t listen to the advice or words of others.

Robert Schuller said; Big egos have little ears.

A wise old owl sat on an oak; The more he saw the less he spoke; The less he spoke the more he heard; Why aren't we like that wise old bird?”

“Listen to the mustn'ts, child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me... Anything can happen, child. Anything can be.”

Shel Silverstein

The obvious teaching of this proverb is our talking should not interfere with our listening.  The wise not only listens, but knows when to listen.  He hears and he learns.  He is more concerned with learning than then being heard.