Fools Rush In…
by Jeremy Harrell
Over the past few weeks we have been examining Proverbs chapter 25. This chapter is part of the collection of Proverbs of Solomon that were collected under the instruction of King Hezekiah. This collection includes (Proverbs 25:1 – Proverbs 29:27). These also were written by Solomon yet collected under the supervision of Hezekiah king of Judah – some 270 years after Solomon’s death. We have come to verses 8-10:
“8 Do not go hastily to court;
For what will you do in the end,
When your neighbor has put you to shame?
9 Debate your case with your neighbor,
And do not disclose the secret to another;
10 Lest he who hears it expose your shame,
And your reputation be ruined.”
Proverbs provides an array of good and practical advice. To go out and hastily argue a case is to do so without due diligence. There are dangers in doing this that are inherent in reacting quickly to situations of life. There is much emotion involved in immediate reactions to any given situations in life. This limits our ability to argue without undue prejudice in our thinking. We are often blinded by emotion and this limits our ability to reason wisely – which is the ability to look at the different angles of the issue. When you are blind to something – you are very susceptible to being “blind-sided” when arguing your case.
The end of hastily argued points is shame and humiliation. The wise will take the time to consider all angles.