Before Expressing An Opinion, Consider This Proverb

This verse from Proverbs has popped up a lot in my life lately. A post here. An article there. And when a verse or passage of Scripture pops up frequently in my life, it feels like a nudge from the Holy Spirit to pay attention and listen. 

This verse is a timely reminder for me and perhaps for you. It's really simple. A foolish person doesn't find pleasure in understanding but rather expressing his (or her) opinion. Ouch. I don't want to be a fool, but according to this verse I'm a fool every time I express my own opinion rather than taking time to understand. 

I don't know about you, but I don't want to be a fool. I want to be wise. So if a foolish person expresses her opinion rather than seeking to understand, we can assume the opposite of this statement: that a wise person seeks to understand rather than expressing her opinion. 

Perhaps this a timely reminder for me and for you in a season when it's so tempting to just express our opinions about things on social media or in conversations with others, but expressing an opinion without seeking to understand is actually the way of the fool. 

So let's look to this truth from God's word and seek to be wise person that seeks to understand rather than taking pleasure in just expressing our opinion on a matter. 

The next time we consider expressing an opinion, may we consider this proverb.