Mensa Otabil - Wise Words (11/05/2025)
We’re in the Book of Proverbs, Chapter 15:2. The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, but the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness. Frequently in the Book of Proverbs, there is a contrast or a comparison made between the wise and the fool, and you see that comparison throughout the book. This is one passage where the wise and the fool are compared. The Bible here talks about the tongue of the wise; that means the words of a wise person because your words will reveal your wisdom. If you’re a wise person, you will reveal your wisdom by what you say. You don’t just go about advertising yourself, «I’m wise, I’m wise.» Wise people simply speak and let others judge whether you’re wise or not, because your wise words will be the best test of who you are.
Now, the passage says that the tongue of the wise, that means the words of a wise person, uses knowledge rightly. It’s a very interesting thought that wisdom uses knowledge rightly. So clearly, the passage is saying that having knowledge is not enough; how you use the knowledge will tell whether you are wise or not. What do you do with the knowledge you have? If you’re in a heated argument-perhaps you are arguing with your spouse-and you have knowledge of something in her past, knowledge of her weaknesses, how do you use that knowledge? If you use it in one way, it can destroy the relationship. If you’re a wise person, you use knowledge wisely.
Or perhaps you were friends with someone and came into privileged knowledge about them because they shared their secrets with you. Now the relationship is strained. So, you have that knowledge; how are you going to use it? If you are a wise person, you’re going to use that knowledge wisely, not destructively. Many times, a lot of us have knowledge, and really, the things that destroy our lives are based on the knowledge people have and how they use it. Wisdom teaches us how to use knowledge, not to destroy but to build. There are some things you know about people that you have to keep quiet about for the rest of your lives because you know that those words hurt and could probably lead to a marriage being destroyed.
So, it says, «The mouth of fools.» So what is the mouth of fools? What fools say? It is possible to be very knowledgeable and foolish at the same time. It is possible to be educated and foolish at the same time, because that’s what the passage is telling us: that a person can be educated, have knowledge, have information, and yet the way they use it is that they pour it forth in a foolish way. Instead of being beneficial, it causes harm. I like how the passage uses the words «pours forth.» The idea there is of a torrent, a river in flood that is flowing, not stopping, sweeping everything in its wake, pulling up trees, and being very destructive. It’s a flood. The fool speaks as a flood that gushes out and destroys everything in its way because even when they have knowledge, they use it in such a way that it causes so much harm.
Now, all of us have had moments when someone who is very well-educated-perhaps has the highest education, a PhD-speaks, and we wonder, «Does he really have a PhD?» because the way they use their knowledge does not reflect wisdom. So, you can be knowledgeable, educated, and still not very wise. May God help us to use knowledge rightly. Let’s pray. Say with me: Heavenly Father, deliver me from foolishness. Teach me to use my knowledge wisely. In Jesus' name, amen and amen.