Mockers and Fools vs Wisdom and Knowledge!

The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down. Proverbs 14:1 NIV
A fool’s mouth lashes out with pride, but the lips of the wise protect them. Proverbs 14:3 NIV
The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning. Proverbs 14:6 NIV
Stay away from a fool, for you will not find knowledge on their lips. Proverbs 14:7 NIV

Looking at The Word through Solomon's insights, there really is no competition between the foolish and the wise. Wisdom trumps foolishness every time.

Wise people build--their houses with solid foundations that will endure the test of time and storms. Any foundation that is week and has not been properly shored up, will buckle and eventually cave in causing destruction to the whole house. And whenever there is a problem with the foundation, steps should be taken to make sure it stabilizes before it crumbles and falls.

The building principle is true of every aspect of our lives--we build relationships on solid foundations. We build careers on solid foundations and we build up our faith in God, on the solid foundation of The Word.

Pride speaks without thinking--not considering its ways or how what is said will affect the hearer. Pride doesn't care and since pride doesn't care--they are often revealed as fools. While the wise are careful to research and think before speaking, mindful that words carry impact and impact affects those who hear their words.

The mocker--those who mock others for whatever reason--seeks wisdom in all the wrong places and from the wrong people and therefore never obtain what he/she is seeking. But those who have knowledge and wisdom, easily discern what the fools never understand.

Solomon reveals the valuable lessons he's learned throughout the Proverbs and carried over into Ecclesiastes--the wisdom he gained from God who gives liberally and from making mistakes in his disobedience. He learned that wisdom never leads anyone astray, but a fool--will also find himself lost, without direction, never knowing right from left or up from down--when to stay and when to quit--when to speak and when to be quiet.

With all that Solomon has to say about fools--and there is quite a bit--we, who read The Word with understanding, are without excuse in recognizing a fool when we see or hear one. And if we are wise, we know to stay away from fools for there is no knowledge or wisdom in them and all they do--is mock others--because they have no foundational substance in the make up of their character.

Now, we need to think--before making a decision about what we've read--and determine where we are in the greater scheme of things. Are we in the camp of the wise or the foolish?