There is a trend among politicians these days to disregard the advice of experts. This aversion to expertise shows that they’re willing to go it alone, to trust their own instincts, and to display an outsider mindset. It may enhance their standing with a portion of the public that doesn’t take the time to consult experts either; but there are many instances when the failure to heed warnings from trusted advisers gets them in trouble.
The Bible has a term for the person who refuses wise counsel: fool. Solomon indicated that failure to listen to advice is “the way of fools” (Proverbs 12:15). In our culture it sounds harsh to refer to someone as a fool, so we soften it by saying, “He acted foolishly,” or “How could I have been so foolish?” But the reality is, when we refuse to listen, when we dodge the truth, when we insist on having our own way, we’re fools.
Wise people know when they don’t know. The fool is the person who convinces himself that he knows more than he really knows and doesn’t need to ask anybody anything. At the end of the day, the wise person breathes a sigh of relief; the fool, a sigh of regret.
God knows there will be times when you lack wisdom. If you are in the midst of circumstances that require you to make a decision, go for help. Don’t trust your judgment alone. Don’t pretend, don’t fake it. Asking for help is not a reflection of our lack of wisdom. Asking for input is evidence of wisdom. When you can’t find the clarity you need, ask somebody you trust, “What is the wise thing for me to do?”
After all, wise people know when they don’t know and aren’t afraid to go to those who do.
In the name of the One who can do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine,
Bruce Jones, Pastor and Co-Creator,
Imagine Church of the Carolinas
