In the book of Proverbs, the fool takes a beating. A fool can be a believer or an unbeliever. He does not listen to wisdom. This wisdom is ultimately based on the Word of God. It is taught, and can also be learned through experience. Life demonstrates the wisdom of God’s Word.
The fool will suffer the consequences of his actions. In Proverbs, these consequences deal with this life. The fool will suffer poverty, a short life, danger, broken relationships, neighbors who do not trust him, and a host of other troubles. If he would listen to wisdom crying out in the street, he could avoid such problems (Prov 1:20-23). He is to be pitied.
As sad a figure as the fool in Proverbs is, there is somebody worse. After the book has continually rebuked the fool, Prov 26:12 says:
Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
The author describes the man who is wise in his own eyes. We might call such a man proud or conceited. He is unteachable. He already knows everything. He does not live his life on the principles of God’s Word. In his eyes, God’s Word has nothing to teach him.
The danger of pride is also a significant theme in Proverbs (3:34; 8:13; 11:2; 13:10; 15:25; 16:5, 18-19; 18:12; 21:4, 24; 29:23). I do not doubt that the proud person will often live a more moral life than the fool.
The NT also warns about the dangers of being a proud person who is wise in his own eyes. James 4:6 says that God opposes the proud. James was writing to believers who were fighting amongst themselves (Jas 4:1-3). No doubt, pride was at the core of such rivalries. When believers are wise in their own eyes, they naturally expect others to do what they want. When they resist, there will be conflicts. James adds that God “gives grace to the humble.” The opposite of the one who is wise in his own eyes is the one who understands his need for God’s guidance and discipline.
Paul gives a similar warning in Rom 12:16. His emphasis seems to be on the ambitious believer who hangs out with people he thinks are important. Like James, Paul extols the virtue of humility.
The point of Prov 26:12 is that it is harder to reach the proud/ambitious/unteachable person with wisdom than it is to reach the fool. The fool might wake up when life hits him in the face. The person who is wise in his own eyes might not suffer the negative consequences of immoral actions. He will remain blind. The fool might see his foolishness. The arrogant person has a much harder time seeing his problem. He will not see the need to change his ways. He believes he is better than others. The fool might come to his senses and, in humility, recognize that he is walking a foolish path.
I think we have a hard time believing the message of Prov 26:12 (and of James and Paul). A person who is wise in his own eyes might be successful and live a moral life. He looks like he has it all together. The problems in the life of the fool, as Proverbs shows, are more evident.
Proverbs, James, and Paul teach us a valuable lesson. We should desire to live lives of obedience to the Lord. We don’t want to be fools. But we need to be aware of a greater danger. May we humbly seek the wisdom of the Lord, and not our own. If we are arrogantly unteachable, we are worse than a fool. All of us should ask the Lord for a dose of humility.
