Understood or Not?

Fools have no interest in understanding; they only want to air their own opinions. (Proverbs 18:2)

If you have ever been around some individuals who seem to only care about their own opinion, or how they see the situation at the exclusion of how anyone else sees it, you are likely listening to someone who has no real interest in understanding. As you can see from our passage, scripture calls them fools. It is indeed foolish to not listen to anyone else's opinion or advice, for a great many things can be learned when we stop to see things from another's perspective.

God doesn't want us to be the fool, nor does he want us to submit to the foolish way of thinking that some may have adopted. He does want us to consult him in all matters and to consider his wisdom as found in the Word of God when we don't have a clear understanding of a situation. Lest we be 'played the fool', we need to see things as he sees them. Our own perspective may not always be from a place of wisdom. It could be partly foolish, partly wise, but be totally wrong because it is a 'mixed stream' of thought and action.

Whenever we seek to understand, instead of always seeking to be the one who is understood first, or the most, we might just find there is much to be learned just by watching and listening. I know it took me a long time to understand this myself. To always be the loudest or most noticed voice in the crowd is not always the best method of operating. When we want all the attention or seek to be the one everyone considers as the 'best' in the group, we are likely dealing with more than a little pride.

I have come to realize my opinion may be correct, but it isn't always ready to be heard. Sharing it at a time when someone is not ready to hear it isn't all that wise. In fact, it is a little bit foolish - like throwing pearls before swine! There is a right time, a right place, and the right frame of reference in the mind of the hearer that is needed more than being the one with the 'opinion' demanding to be heard. Jesus always knew the crowd's willingness to hear. He sought to understand the crowd and then he sought to bring them understanding. We could take our lead from him on that one. Just sayin!