Solomon spends the first few verses basically telling us how worthless and untrustworthy a fool is. Then he takes it one step further. After all the derision about fools, he tells us that arrogance is worse than foolishness. I’m afraid I agree. Foolish people are annoying and perhaps even reckless. But, arrogant, cocky people are dangerous and destructive. I have seen arrogant people destroy organizations, churches, and ministries. I have also seen them wreak havoc on families. The fool can occasionally learn a lesson. The arrogant not only refuses to learn, they demand their version of “right” be honored by everyone else. Early in my marriage I had to learn to listen, I mean really listen. I need to understand how to listen to hear and learn. It is amazing how much growth awaits those who know that, of all the truth in the world, we are masters of very little of it, even on our best day. If we walk into the day looking to learn and grow it leaves very little time for arrogance and its coconspirator – pride. The saying goes, “if you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room.” I would tweak that by saying, “if you are the smartest person in the room you are probably alone.” Today, seek out wise men and women and shut up and listen. #BeTheEdge
