A wise man will hear
William MacDonald teaches that true wisdom is marked by the willingness to listen, learn from others, and humbly accept correction, contrasting the wise with the fool who refuses counsel.
In this sermon, William MacDonald explores the biblical distinction between the wise and the fool, emphasizing that true wisdom involves a teachable spirit and the willingness to listen to counsel. He contrasts the stubbornness of the fool, who rejects advice and faces repeated failures, with the humility of the wise, who grow through correction and godly guidance. This teaching encourages believers to cultivate wisdom by embracing correction and seeking godly counsel in all areas of life.
Text
“A wise man will hear.” (Proverbs 1:5)
The essential difference between the wise man and the fool in the book of Proverbs is that the wise man will hear and the fool won’t.
It isn’t a question of the fool’s mental capacity. Actually he may have unusual intellectual ability. But he just cannot be told anything. He labors under the fatal delusion that his knowledge is infinite and his judgments are infallible. If his friends try to counsel him, they receive scorn for their efforts. They watch him trying to escape the inevitable results of sinful and stupid actions, but they are helpless to avert the crash. And so he goes on from one crisis to another. Now his finances are a disaster. Now his personal life is in shambles. Now his business totters on the edge of chaos. But he rationalizes that life is giving him a bad deal. It never occurs to him that he is his own worst enemy. He is generous in dispensing advice to others, oblivious of his inability to run his own life. A compulsive talker, he holds forth with the aplomb of an oracle.
The wise man is made of better stuff. He realizes that everyone’s mental wires have been somewhat crossed by the Fall. He knows that others can sometimes see aspects of a problem that he has overlooked. He is willing to acknowledge that his memory may be faulty at times. He is teachable, welcoming any input that will help him make the right decisions. Actually he solicits the advice of others because he knows that “in the multitude of counselors there is safety” (Proverbs 11:14). Like everyone else, he sometimes makes mistakes. But he has this saving virtue that he learns from his mistakes and makes every failure a springboard to success. He is grateful for a deserved rebuke and is willing to say, “I was wrong. I am sorry.” Wise children submit to parental discipline; fools rebel. Wise young people obey the scriptural precepts concerning moral purity; fools do their own thing. Wise adults judge everything by whether it is well-pleasing to the Lord; fools act according to what pleases themselves.
And so it is that the wise grow wiser, and the fools are stuck fast in the rut of their own folly.
Sermon Outline
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I. The Nature of the Fool
- Foolishness is not lack of intellect but refusal to listen
- Fools believe their knowledge is infinite and judgments infallible
- Fools reject counsel and face repeated crises
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II. Characteristics of the Wise Man
- Acknowledges human fallibility and need for counsel
- Welcomes correction and learns from mistakes
- Seeks advice and values multiple counselors
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III. Practical Outcomes of Wisdom
- Wise children submit to discipline, fools rebel
- Wise young people obey scriptural moral precepts
- Wise adults judge by what pleases the Lord
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IV. The Growth of Wisdom vs. The Rut of Folly
- Wise grow wiser through humility and learning
- Fools remain stuck in their folly
- Wisdom leads to success and safety
Key Quotes
“A wise man will hear.” — William MacDonald
“The fool labors under the fatal delusion that his knowledge is infinite and his judgments are infallible.” — William MacDonald
“In the multitude of counselors there is safety.” — William MacDonald
Application Points
- Be open to receiving advice and correction from others to grow in wisdom.
- Recognize your own limitations and seek multiple counselors for important decisions.
- Evaluate your actions by whether they please the Lord rather than your own desires.
Frequently Asked Questions
What distinguishes a wise person from a fool according to the sermon?
A wise person is willing to hear, learn, and accept correction, while a fool refuses counsel and believes their own judgment is always right.
Does intellectual ability determine wisdom?
No, wisdom is not about intellectual capacity but about the openness to listen and learn from others.
Why is counsel important for the wise?
Because others can see aspects of a problem that one might overlook, and multiple counselors provide safety and better decisions.
How do wise people respond to correction?
They are grateful for deserved rebuke and willing to admit when they are wrong.
What practical behaviors demonstrate wisdom in different life stages?
Wise children submit to discipline, wise youth obey moral precepts, and wise adults judge by what pleases the Lord.