The Mark of a Fool

Our wisdom today is Proverbs 28:26:

“He who trusts in himself is a fool, but one who walks in wisdom will be safe.”

This verse warns us against being too self-reliant. I believe in self-reliance, but we should not lean on our own thinking completely. Unless…

Unless you don’t live near or know anyone who is as smart as you are.
Unless you don’t have smart parents.
Unless you don’t feel you can trust God’s word.

You should trust yourself at least sometimes, but never be the only one you trust. Five hundred years after Solomon shared this wisdom, Socrates said, “Smart people learn from everything and everyone, average people from their experiences, and stupid people already have all the answers.”

That is saying much the same thing. If you are smart, if you are wise, you will learn from everything and everyone. If you are an average Joe, you have to make your own mistakes to learn anything. If you are foolish, you think you already have all the answers and don’t trust anyone else. You don’t even need to trust God.

As a youth, my mother always warned me to be careful of the word “fool.” I understand that, but Solomon said, “He who trusts in himself is a fool.”

Rather than that, be wise and trust God. Know what God tells you to do.

I’m Lonnie Davis, and these are thoughts worth thinking.