Ever known someone that never cared to understanding anything believing they always knew what was best? How about someone that always has to offer input on everything regardless of whether it’s necessary? Well, there is a reason that some people tend to have way too much input and draw way too much attention to themselves. Let’s look at Proverbs 18:2:
A fool finds no pleasure in understanding
but delights in airing his own opinions.
I don’t mean to sound harsh or judgmental here, but in essence these people draw attention to themselves and it tends to seem rather foolish. They don’t realize it, but it is a way of self gratification and seeking affirmation through their perception of being important. The one thing I’ve learned over the years is that it isn’t always important for me to be right and that I have carefully pick and choose which things I will go to battle over and which things just aren’t worth the extra effort. Quite simply, it’s called getting along with others!
I can’t tell you how many times I have met with senior leaders in my church and then thought to myself that these guys need to listen to me because I know a better way, but chose to shut up and listen and try it there way first. You know what? Most of the times I am so thankful I didn’t speak up because in the end their way was the right way for that situation and I would have looked like a fool in the end.
So many of the proverbs advise us to hold our tongue and it will cause us to find wisdom. This is a lesson that I hope you won’t need to learn the hard way, but heeding it will cause your eyes to be opened as you realize that there are multiple ways to accomplish things and sometimes as much as we think we know better, we are proven wrong in the end, yet are better for having gone through the experience in silence.
