Do not speak in the hearing of a fool,
for he will despise the wisdom of your words. 

Proverbs 23:9

According to this verse, there is a time for wisdom to be silent and that is when we are in the hearing of a fool!  And, if we are honest, we know this is a really good admonition. All of us have had the experience of trying to explain something important to a fool, only to come away from that conversation very frustrated and maybe a bit confused with a, ‘what just happened?’ question whirling in our minds.

I think it is always a good reminder to remain silent and in prayer more than we speak, even if we have something very wise to say. It is a hazardous snare for a wise person to always feel obliged to share her wisdom. Eventually her words are like clanging cymbals, easily ignored and even appearing foolish. (1Corinthians 13)

A great portion of mastering wisdom is learning when to speak and when to be silent. Then, when we do speak, learning the art of presentation; not for manipulation but for providing the best climate for gaining understanding between us and those we are conversing with. The Apostle Paul was a master in this. In Acts chapter 17 we read about Paul’s use of wisdom in discussing with the Greeks concerning their own idol to an unknown God. 

So, Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I observe that you are very religious in all respects. For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, ‘TO AN UNKOWN GOD.’
Therefore, what you worship in ignorance,
this I proclaim to you.  

Acts 17:22-23

In the next eight verses Paul describes the Gospel beautifully to those who had never even heard the name of Jesus. Interestingly, once resurrection from the dead was mentioned, the crowd got a little upset actually sneering against Paul, but some wanted to hear more. In wisdom, Paul decided to leave the discussion at this juncture. God used Paul’s wise words though. 

But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite
and a woman named Damaris and others with them.

Acts 17:34

I don’t know if these were the first Greeks to be saved, but certainly some of the earliest. And we learn in Thessalonians that Paul wrote his first letter to that city of believers from Athens and that Timothy was used as a messenger between Athens and Thessalonica. Were these converts with Paul during this time. We don’t know. But I am looking forward to hearing these Greeks’ stories when I bump into them in heaven. Very cool to think about!