Our text today is Proverbs 18:13
“He who answers a matter before he hears it—
this is folly and disgrace to him.”
I’m going to confess that I really struggle with this passage. Sometimes, I don’t hear things because I am thinking about my reply. Do you ever do that? It is a bad habit.
Someone once noted that God gave us two ears and one mouth because he wants us to listen twice as much as we talk. Indeed, this is an easier task for some than for others. I would say that it is easier for one gender than for the other, but I have seen people on both sides of the gender line face that same problem. (And yes, I still believe in two genders.)
I told my family about the time I was at a men’s breakfast. I told a really good joke and everyone started laughing. Just as they started to laugh, one of the other men spoke up, “Let me tell you a joke I heard.” He didn’t give people enough time to enjoy my joke. In the middle of telling his joke, one of the other men spoke up, “Hurry up and finish your joke. I have one I want to tell.”
As you can see, answering before we hear the whole issue is a very old problem and a foolish thing to do. It can bring shame. You may get away with it for a while, but eventually, it will bite you.
Lonnie Davis