Thoughts On A Proverb #8

Thinking with the wise. Proverbs 10:8

Photo by Alexander Grey on Unsplash

Proverbs 10:8

“The wise of heart will receive commandments, but a babbling fool will come to ruin.”

Points To Remember

1. There are two ways men respond to authority or commands: They receive them or they “babble” against them. They consider the command or they go on with their own ideas.

2. A babbling fool is always talking; he’s always voicing his own thoughts and ideas. He is “babbling,” but more than that, he is a “fool.”

3. The definition of fool is: Silly. It’s a word that is used in proverbs 7:22 as, “is caught fast.” It’s a man with no understanding and easily led astray. He’s caught like an animal because he rejects what will keep him alive: God. He finds commands as a restraint, like taming a wild horse.

4. The fool uses his mouth over his heart. Notice that the description for the wise is: Wise of heart. The description of the fool is: “babbling.” He’s always speaking and he never stops in order to have understanding. Nothing reaches his heart.

5. Notice that the wise don’t have an outcome like the fool. It says that the fool “will come to ruin,” yet the wise continue receiving.

6. The fool is led by pride.

7. What is it to receive a commandment? In proverbs 6:25 with he’s warning his son of the adulterous woman he says, “do not let her capture you with her eyelashes.” The phrase, “let her capture you” is the same idea as “to receive” that we find here. So to “receive a commandment” is to take a commandment in such a way that it “captures you.” You find it attractive and desirable like the beauty of a woman. (Or if you are a woman: like the strength of a man.) The wise will see commandments as things that are good for them.

For The Job

In our work place we should be men and women who are under the commands of God. We should be men and women who live to honor Christ and give him glory. This means that we should be willing to listen to the authority placed above us. We should honor our boss and see his commands as things that are right for the job at hand. Many are let go from their jobs because they won’t be led by authority. They hate the process, they hate the rules, they back-bite the boss, and they hate things that are made for their safety. They are men who only want things the way they desire and they complain and babble. Let this not be so for you and me. Let us embrace Gods authority and any authority placed above while we live.

For The Family

For the family I think it is wise to heed the word of God, teach the word of God, and enjoy the word of God as a family. To have the word of God as central in the family is to have the greatest joy. To have the Gospel as something celebrated in the family is to have great joy! In our culture we don’t see families centered around wisdom. We see it centered around material and pleasure. It isn’t surprising that kids find video games as more enjoyable than books and story. It’s also not surprising that many homes are drenched with perversion and wickedness. We need to set our hearts on wisdom that is found in knowing God or we will come to ruin. Is our family an environment nurtured with truth, grace, commandment, and God glorifying? Or is it watered with things that “babble?”

For The Young

Don’t lean on what the world says is wise. Don’t despise authority. Your parents are leading you into life. They have lived longer than you and your friends. They understand many things. Listen to them, but more than that, spend a lot of time in your Bible and prayer. Flee from evil things that seem pleasurable and save yourself the pain that is given through them. Don’t always have things to say, but listen. Don’t always fight back, but consider. If you do this, you will have a joyous future!

Cling to Christ!

Related Verses

“Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many” —Proverbs 4:10

“Take my instruction instead of silver and knowledge rather than choice gold,” — Proverbs 8:10