The Difference Between Wise People and Foolish Ones

The Difference Between Wise People and Foolish Ones

Here is an excerpt from "Running The Race Together Part 6–How To Receive Correction": 

"The difference between a wise person and a foolish one is not that the foolish person needs correction but the wise person doesn’t. That’s not the difference. Over time, of course, the wise person who is always growing in wisdom will need less correction, but the point I want you to realize is that both the wise person and the foolish one need correction. But here’s the difference: the wise person has the ability to humbly receive correction, whereas the fool doesn’t have this ability. The fool foolishly thinks that he is wise in his own eyes and therefore thinks that he is beyond the need for correction (see Proverbs 12:15, 26:12). The wise person knows better: the wise person knows how much folly remains lodged in his own heart, and he is eager to learn and grow. Consider these lessons that come straight out of the Proverbs:

“The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.” (Proverbs 4:5) In other words, the starting point for being a wise person is the recognition that wisdom is something you lack but desperately need. This immediately puts the wise person in the position of a humble learner who wants to acquire the wisdom and insight that is essential for living a faithful life. 

“Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.” (Proverbs 9:7-8) According to these verses, are you wise? If you are wise, then you love the people who reprove you and correct you. If you are wise, then the reproof and instruction that you receive actually makes you wiser, because you are incorporating it into your life. Wise people love wisdom so much, that they love the God-sent people who bring wisdom to them.

“The wise of heart will receive commandments, but a babbling fool will come to ruin.” (Proverbs 10:8) “Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life, but he who rejects reproof leads others astray.” (Proverbs 10:17) “Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.” (Proverbs 12:1) “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.” (Proverbs 12:15) What about you? Do you receive commandments? Do you heed instruction? Do you love discipline? Do you welcome advice and counsel?"