Might it be fair to say that in a society that so highly favours individual expression, expression of thought in speech included, we would therefore experience proportionally more unrestrained and foolish speech as a result? I imagine so, because our hearts are naturally septic tanks overflowing out of the gutter of our mouths. Put simply (and less grotesquely), our hearts are displayed in our words. The less restrained (and more expressive) we are with our words, the more we see the foolishness of our own hearts and that of others around us. Fortunately, the Lord has given us counsel for this matter. What does a wise person do when a fool displays unrestrained and destructive speech?
“Do not speak to fools, for they will scorn your prudent words.”(Prov. 23:9)
It makes us wonder who the fool is. At times we all speak destructive and unrestrained words that hurt others. That doesn’t necessarily mean that we are a fool. We may act foolishly at times, certainly. But I think we are called to exercise discernment, essentially, wisdom. A ‘proverbial’ fool, we might say, is someone who, as a pattern of behaviour, spews forth unrestrained and destructive words.
Because of the nature of foolishness, which leads to the harm of others, proverbs councils us to distance ourselves from such a person. Much as you would stay away from a burning building. The less self-control a person has, the more we bear our hearts. And let us remember that our hearts can be terribly dark places.
Sometimes it’s easier, and sometimes it’s harder to put distance between us and a fool. If it’s just an acquaintance, a friend of a friend, it is easier to stay away from them. But other times it is more difficult. The fool might be a relative of sorts. They might be a work colleague whose proximity is not at your discretion. How do you keep your distance from them?
The nature of Proverbs in its prescribed wisdom means general advice is given, but each reader and individual must apply it to their specifics. Naturally, this is the part that we do not like because it requires work. But we must take responsibility. However, the wisdom of Proverbs is not merely for an individual. We are part of a community of faith that seeks to interpret and apply the wisdom of God to all of life. The wisdom of the community of faith is at your disposal to help you and guide you. What does it mean for a Tradie to be wise on the job site? It’s worth asking other tradesmen. But as wise as they may be, asking an IT specialist for wisdom about dealing with the Sparky you’re contracted with may not be as helpful.
There are times when the specifics require specialised insight. But there are also times for which the wisdom of Proverbs can apply more generally. For example, most of our society is active on social media. In theory, this is the easiest place to apply the wisdom of proverbs with regard to keeping our distance from foolish speakers. It’s literally built into the system.
Social media can be a black-and-white display of people. I personally think about Youtube (as it is the social media outlet I use most). With regard to Youtube (and this can be said of many media outlets in general), it’s often the most foolish people who are the most popular people. People say awful things on social media. We might say that they are bearing their hearts. When they do, it’s so obvious. In such an instance, you can take action really quickly and easily. You simply stop following them. That’s easy to do, at least in theory. But it is particularly important to do that.
What will it mean for you to keep your distance from a fool? Again, it is difficult to say. Nevertheless, I think it is worth asking yourself and reflecting on your specific circumstances and relationships. As I said at the beginning, in a world that holds personal expression (including that of our words) as one of the greatest virtues, self-discipline and restraint will naturally be held in lower esteem. I would surmise that it will become increasingly necessary for us to learn how to deal wisely with foolish speech (as is already happening). So perhaps it is going to be wise for you to meditate on the wisdom of Proverbs with regard to this very matter.
Consider the words of the Lord Jesus.
“No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognised by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” (Luke 6:43–45)
Bigvai and Shiphrah 