Becoming Wise

(Prov 15:7 NIrV) The lips of wise people spread knowledge. But that's not true of the hearts of foolish people.

This morning we continue our series, In this verse Solomon contrasts the helpful insight that flows from the lips of the wise with the useless babble of the foolish. When you speak to a wise man you walk away enlightened, inspired and encouraged. Coming in contact with a person who operates in Godly wisdom is a positive and helpful experience.

However, when you speak to a fool you often walk away disappointed, confused and frustrated. The foolish can’t edify others because they cannot give what they don’t have, they cannot teach what they do not know, and they cannot lead where they have not been.

This reminds me of the second verse, of this same chapter, where Solomon told us that “Knowledge flows like spring water from the wise; fools are leaky faucets, dripping nonsense.” It seems like Solomon was petty hard on fools, but I believe he was being harsh so that we could get the message. We only get one life and if we are not careful, we can allow the folly of the fool to lead us astray.

We would do good to carefully consider whom we receive advice/counsel from. As believers, we must check our input. Back in chapter four Solomon said it this way: “Keep your heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life” (4:23). The heart Solomon refers to here is not the blood-pump, but rather our inner-man (our spirit and soul). Our spirit is where our true essence resides and our soul where our mind (thinker), emotions (feeler), and will (chooser) are.

Solomon urged us to protect our inner man, putting up a wall of defense against foolish input that leads to undisciplined conduct.

It’s dangerous to allow our mind to receive unrighteous and/or foolish input, to allow our emotions to fluctuate unchecked, to allow our will to choose what we know is wrong, and to allow our spirit to wander without direction.

The New Living Translation says, “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” And then, after you have protected your heart, the very next verse says, “Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips” (4:24). The person who guards their heart is the person who will be able to speak words of wisdom. They will be the wise people who spread knowledge (referred to in this text) and not the foolish who are unable to. They will be the ones with spring water flowing from their lips, instead of the ones with leaky faucets that drip nonsense.

So what does this mean to you? It means you have a choice. You can either become the wise man who spreads knowledge or the foolish person who others will avoid. To become the wise person the Father desires for you to be, you must guard your heart against the wrong input. Jesus said, “Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks” (Mat 12:34). The words, “The abundance of the heart,” could also read, “The deposit of the heart.”

Your heart is your deposit. Whatever you routinely allow through your eye and ear gates will eventually get down into your heart. What you watch, listen to, read, and receive will determine the content and quality of your inner-man. Whatever you allow through your gates (ears and eyes) will either feed your faith or starve it; it will either help you resist fear/doubt or help promote it.

Be careful what you allow in, because it will eventually come out, and once it does, people will know whether or not you are the wise or foolish man referred to in this text.

Father, thank You for loving me enough to warn me about unrighteous input. I will guard my heart from receiving the wrong things. I will protect my eye and ear gates and only allow those things through that will help instruct, inspire, edify, and uplift me; so that I can be the person You desire for me to be. I want to be the Godly-wise person in this text. Once I am, I know that You will send people my way, so that I can make the deposits into them that You have made into me. Father, help me to help others today. As You share with me I will share with them and I will be known for your wisdom! In Jesus’ name. Amen!