From Being a Fool to Being Wise

In 1982, my youth ministry worship team went on a mission trip to Jamaica. I was 16 years old, and I knew everything. At least I thought I did. The only thing I didn’t realize was how stubborn, angry, and critical I was about everything. Those things in our lives are tough to see.

One night, our youth pastor called a team meeting. Each team member revealed things about me I needed to hear. They were doing all they could to help me transition from being a fool to being wise, and it hurt. I will never forget that night, but I needed it.

In Proverbs 12, God uses the wisest man that ever lived, Solomon, to tell us things about ourselves that we likely wouldn’t see unless someone else pointed them out. Look at verses 15-18.

15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise. 16 A fool’s wrath is known at once, but a prudent man covers shame. 18 There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, but the tongue of the wise promotes health.

God tells us, through Solomon, that the antidote to stubbornness is listening. The antidote to anger is self-control that overlooks an insult. The antidote to a critical spirit is to speak words that heal.  

It’s never too late to change. It’s never too late to listen to the opinions and ideas of others and learn from them. It’s never too late to win the battle over anger and to show yourself to be calm in a tense situation. It’s never too late to see the good in the people around you. It is never too late to start speaking life to them when they need it the most. Thank God it’s not too late.   

Reflective Questions:

1.  Would your friends consider you a fool or wise?

2.  Have you ever had someone confront you about the poor choices you were making? If so, what lessons did you learn from that time?

3.  Are you one to seek advice and counsel from others? Who are two to three people you can ask to give an honest evaluation of your life?

Memory Verse:

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise. Proverbs 12:15

Prayer:

Dear God, thank you for bringing others into my life to tell me things about myself that I would likely not see unless they told me. Help me to listen to wise counsel from others.