Proverbs 18:2
A
fool takes no pleasure in understanding but only in expressing his
opinion.
Proverbs 18: 15
An intelligent heart acquires
knowledge and ear of the wise seeks knowledge
Romans 10:17
So faith comes from hearing and
hearing through the word of Christ.
Many times we read the above
passages and do not put much thought into them. We say yes we know these but do
we really know? We will only be deemed to really know if we put them into
practice and put it into practice without realizing it. We do it out of habit.
People can label us great
conversationalist just by us listening and not saying a peep. A fool however
does not listen but blabs away his opinion or he listens only to find
opportunity to express his opinion on what he hears or he listens with coloured
prejudged opinions. He does not listen to see if there is anything to learn. A
wise man truly listens, searches for insights whether speaking to the most
intelligent man in the world (by human standards) or the least educated fellow
(Does this not require humility in a man?) He makes no pre-judgements. He makes
no conclusions until he listens. In
Hebrew “heart” encompasses the mind, the emotions and the will. So the heart in
Proverbs 18:15 , mind, emotions and will is always acquiring knowledge.
How? By listening to what others have to
say and by listening and applying the word of God (Does this not require
humility and loving God with all our heart? Does this not require a reverence
for God? The Fear of the Lord is the beginning of all wisdom) . Knowledge and
wisdom are not merely or necessarily, education in schools, colleges and
universities but a person’s ability to make right choices, to manage life.
Right choices cannot be by human standards for that is ever changing according
to what people deem it right at some given time. Right choices are choices that
God would be pleased with. His laws are ever constant. His words are ever
constant. Making such right choices will enable one to profit from life’s
opportunities and avoid the pitfalls.
The wise
one (chakham) takes joy in learning
and gaining wisdom. The wise one dares to make mistakes, picks himself up after
making mistakes and continues. So today, we humble ourselves and begin to shop
for knowledge in conversations, in books, in mistakes of others, in lives of
others, anywhere, everywhere, anything and we make it a habit to do so.
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