Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Proverbs 12:9-15 Listen. Attentively consider.

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise. Proverbs 12:15
Way: moral action and character
Fool: who despises wisdom & discipline
Right: pleasing
Eyes: think best, conceit
Heeds: listen, attentively consider
Counsel: especially in wisdom, advise
Wise: ethically and religiously

Fools follow their own directions and think they are right, but wise people listen intently to advice. Proverbs 12:15 (VOICE)
Stupid people always think they are right. Wise people listen to advice. Proverbs 12:15 (GNT)
A fool thinks he needs no advice, but a wise man listens to others. Proverbs 12:15 (TLB)

Closing your eyes and saying "la, la, la" so that you can't hear—are the actions of a 2-year-old. Sadly, they are also the same actions of a fool—who should know better! 
Stupid people always think they are right. We all know a few of those. But how often do we exhibit that same mentality? How often do we ignore wise advise? How often do we find ourselves in the midst of a mess, simply because we did "my way"? 

My-self. I know best. Looks good to ME!
Often that leads to more trouble than we can even begin to realize. 

Listen. Attentively consider. 
Do you hear me now? Too often we hear wise words, yet we do not LISTEN to them. We do not attentively consider them. Listen! That means to stop talking, stop planning, be quiet and open your hears and mind to what is being said. 
Too often we hear, yet we are too busy planning and making up our minds based on "me, myself, and I" that we don't listen to advice. We simply hear noise and then go on with our foolish ways. 

Listen. Attentively consider. 
Only when we have a desire to learn and accept wisdom, will we be ready to listen and attentively consider advice. That desire arrises from a heart that is permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31 MSG). 

May we each strive harder to Listen—Attentively consider!

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