Heart of a Fool

11-08-09

Proverbs 12:23
Knowledge is a resource that provides direction, empowerment and confidence; its absence causes insecurity, confusion and hopelessness. Proverbs tells us the prudent man, that is a man who is resourceful and diligent, will conceal knowledge but the fool will proclaim foolishness.

The prudent and the fool have opposing ways. One of the oppositions relate to the different view of knowledge. The fool does not see the value of knowledge so he does not pursue or take interest in it. On the other hand, the prudent sees the value of knowledge, takes a personal interest and stores it. This perception of knowledge is what causes the prudent to be prudent and the fool to be foolish.

More than the view of knowledge, the passage speaks specifically on how knowledge is handled. The prudent man will take knowledge and conceal it. It is secured in a place that is conducive to its well being. By concealing knowledge the prudent is cautious to share. The fool on the other hand is quite different. Whatever bits of information he has is braggingly shared. It doesn’t take long to find out what the fool knows because it is so loosely kept and when it is given time it is shared.

The handling of knowledge is essential to establishing confidence, empowerment and purpose. Mishandling it can be the cause of unneeded frustration, confusion and pain.

The heart of a fool
The heart of a fool does not see itself nor hear itself; it sees and hears only what it wants. The heart of a fool is bold having no reserves of sharing what it awkwardly holds, proclaiming what he does not have, does not know and can not show. No knowledge to share, the fool does not care as long as it is his voice you hear. The ear lobes are the target of the fools display. Sharing their conscience of nonsense a way that others can see the absence of what should not be.