The prudent keep their knowledge to themselves,
but a fool’s heart blurts out folly.
Summary: What is folly and what does folly have to do with knowledge? The answer lies mostly in our understanding of truth and what we do with the knowledge we have.
To wrap up our discussion on this passage, let’s begin with a brief review. Knowledge is personal. We can “know” that two plus two is four, but there is no law that says everyone has to agree with us.
The result of knowledge being personal is that there are lots of reasons to disagree with each other. When it comes to our faith in Jesus Christ, this is not a good thing. On the last night before his crucifixion, Jesus spoke about the importance of unity among believers. He said,
“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one — I in them and you in me — so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. (John 17: 20-23)
This is where the second part of Solomon’s proverb comes into play.
So what is folly?
The dictionary defines folly as a “lack of good sense.” Guess what? This means that even if you are speaking truth, if you speak it at the wrong time, in the wrong place, and in the wrong way, it can come out as folly.
There are a lot of people who have strong opinions about this or that. All of us who believe in Jesus have opinions on a whole range of topics, from baptism to the resurrection of the dead. Want to start something during coffee hour at church? Just bring up the question of “free will” and see who bites. Everyone has opinions, and many people believe that their opinion is right and everyone else is wrong.
But are we here to argue, or are we here to reflect God’s love in the world?
Jesus left us with a few commands, but mostly his example. He lived a life devoted to his Father’s will. He loved others, even though they wanted to kill him.
Yes, he argued with the Pharisees. This is true. But the Pharisees were not “believers.” They did not claim to love Jesus or follow him. Christians do. The Pharisees present a special challenge for us because Jesus spoke to them as their God and Messiah. They refused to acknowledge him and clung insistently to their man-made rules. This is why it is so dangerous for us to cling to man-made rules or man-made “interpretations.” It is also dangerous for us to copy Jesus’ behavior towards the Pharisees for the simple reason he is God and we are not.
Facts can be folly. Jesus tells us to love God above all else and our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 22: 37-40). He tells us to turn the other cheek (Matthew 5:39) and take up our cross and follow him every day (Luke 9:23).
Yes, he has given us the Great Commission to “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28: 18-20), but if we ignore his other commands to expedite the Great Commission, don’t we make a mockery of our faith? And if we mock our own faith through our words and deeds, isn’t that a living example of folly?
Jesus tells us, “first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” (Matthew 7:5) When Solomon tells us, “The prudent keep their knowledge to themselves, but a fool’s heart blurts out folly,” he is giving us a clue to what Jesus meant.
Application: Practice prudence.
Food for Thought: What happens when a Christian prioritizes the Great Commission above loving our neighbor as ourselves? (Bonus question: How do the Great Commission and the Greatest Commandment conflict or support each other?)
I believe the great commandment and the great commission complement each other perfectly. If we speak of God’s love for humanity while demonstrating God’s love for the lost world of people – it is a powerful presentation of the truth. Even as we share the truth of a holy God who hates sin, it comes from one beggar (sinner) telling another beggar where he found bread.
Thank you, Rich!
I agree. 🙂
07-24-2022, Proverbs 12:23 III, What happens when a Christian prioritizes the Great Commission above loving our neighbor as ourselves?
We remain on earth to live the Great commission, by loving others as ourselves and introduceing them to Christ. Isn’t this exactly what Jesus did?
The early European missionaries to China would move into a village and live with the people they were ministering to. They became white Chinese as they dressed, ate, lived like them and taught them about God by word and EXAMPLE. Their 1st love was for God as they spread His word through deeds.
As time went by, they began building or hiring others to build them a home separate from the villagers. They kept their European cloths, food, as they lived apart from the people they were claiming to bring Christ too, preferably in a house on a hill.
Who do you think demonstrated Christ in their lives?
Bonus question: How do the Great Commission and the Greatest Commandment conflict or support each other?
Rich wrapped this up well. Only those who live God’s Greatest commandment will have the power to fulfill the Great Commission of Christ.
Ron,
Nice summary! I know you have personal knowledge of Chinese history. That makes your insight even more powerful.
It makes me wonder about our ministry here in this country. How do we reach those who live lives in areas of chronic poverty and crime? Are we trying to pull people out of those situations or should we be meeting them where they are? Thank God for his Holy Spirit which guides us into his answers and our work.
I believe Jesus would go to them, the people in bad situations. Not to be with them in sin but to be close enough to love, close enough for them to reach out and grab your hand of compassion. Not just a handout but more of a guiding hand towards salvation, knowledge, wisdom, and understanding of God’s word.
Ron,
Thank you for that insight. That certainly fits with the picture of God coming to earth as a man, Jesus. He lived among us but did not join in our sin. He did not give us the key to worldly ease, but opened the door to wisdom, knowledge and understanding as you point out. After all, he is the Word! (John 1: 1-5)
Great points Jeff,
I have traveled to China for at least a month or more each trip. I do not speak conversational Chinese but in my trips the Lord has used me to lead 4 Chinese to the Lord. One I married, two were members of her family and one was a First Lieutenant in the Peoples Liberation Army, a member in the communist party who spoke perfect English. He was drawn to be as the Lord directed his attention to my USMC tattoo,
I simply needed to travel and be very approachable as I tried to walk with Jesus. He brought them to me and spoke to them through me. What a pleasure it has been being a child of God.
What happens when a Christian prioritizes the Great Commission above loving our neighbor as ourselves?
Your question reminds me of Amy Carmichael. She saw churches that made the working class/the poor feel unwelcome. So she made a church that has a sign literally reading “and come in your work clothes”
She went on mission to Japan and saw that the method of preaching the gospel did not convey the message intended because the organization there hadn’t bothered to learn how the people perceived things.
She went to minister in India and saw the English only being English and not interacting with Indians at all. So she changed her clothes and learned their language and respected their customs and then was able to save how many children??
1 Corinthians 13 says that without love, all of our evangelical works and miracles are worth nothing. And that’s exactly what Amy saw. The gospel was told but not understood or reachable, so it wasn’t worthwhile. So she changed the methods in order to reach the people. She changed the methods because she loved the people, not just the message.
Thank you, A!
What a wonderful living example of God’s love!
Excellent discussion & insight into Prov 12:23. Jesus spoke truth and He lived what He spoke throughout His ministry…He led by example! Sometimes living by the example of Jesus life and keeping our mouths shut, speaks greater volumes into people’s hearts & minds. Then we become a reflection of Jesus & not of ourselves! ✝️
Great point, Katherine!
You remind me of Glen Campbell’s song, “Less of Me.”
🙂