Fools find no pleasure in understanding
Proverbs 18:1-2 - The fool is focused on self rather than God.
AI-generated image of a couple quarreling.
“An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends and against all sound judgment starts quarrels. Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions.”
Proverbs 18:1-2 NIV
Just a quick word before we dive into today’s verse. Yesterday Barb thanked our readers for their support, and I just want to reiterate that. Your readership and comments keep us motivated to learn and share even more of God’s Word! We’ll never ask for money; if you choose to make a paid subscription or send us an offering, it goes to God’s work, not us.
We’re back to exploring the wisdom of the Old Testament as encapsulated in Proverbs. Knowing how God has often challenged me with very timely content from Proverbs, it’s surprising these verses didn’t show up last week during the election… but here they are, and they’re still quite relevant.
By “unfriendly”, Solomon is referring those who cut themselves off from their friends, their communities, and even their families. This type of person is unwilling to make any sort of sacrifice to get along with others. That’s the ultimate lack of humility; separating oneself from anyone else’s thoughts or opinions. Eventually, they rage against everyone, quarreling just for the sake of making themselves feel smart.
Many of today’s social media channels are unfriendly, which is ironic considering that one of them refers to followers as “friends”. These platforms excel in being echo chambers of the same opinions, with contrary ideas not being discussed in a civil manner but instead just being shouted loudly and repetitively.
Even introverts should realize the need for community. God didn’t create us to be solitary creatures. To succeed in a community, it’s necessary to put away one’s self and try to get along with others. Demanding that the rest of the world see the world as you do is the ultimate in selfishness and results in arguments.
In verse 2, Solomon implies that knowledge and understanding bring pleasure to the wise man or woman. On the other hand, the fool would rather not consider other points of view or pay attention to facts; he or she is happier to just to squawk out an opinion, whether it correct or not! The fool is focused on self rather than God, the wrong priority and definitely not the way to find “delight”.
Today’s booster shot of wisdom ends with a quote from Adam Clarke:
“It is a fact that most vain and foolish people are never satisfied in company, but in showing their own nonsense and emptiness.”1
Heaven On Wheels Daily Prayer:
Lord, Thank You for the wisdom of Proverbs, which like all of Your Word always provides instruction to those who are willing to listen. Help me to develop a more godly perspective and to live a righteous life, to look up to Jesus and to never look back at mistakes I’ve made in the past. Most of all, assist me in becoming a more humble person focused on You, and to always try to understand others rather than be argumentative. I ask these things in the name of Jesus my Savior, AMEN.
Scripture quotations taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica US, Inc.®. Used by permission.
Clarke, Adam "Clarke's Commentary: The Holy Bible Containing the Old and New Testaments with a Commentary and Critical Notes" Volume 3 (Job-Song of Solomon) (New York: Eaton and Mains, 1827)