Proverbs 18:2 says: “A fool does not delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own heart.”
This verse reveals a fundamental problem: many people do not seek to understand others in their conversations with them. On the contrary, they are merely “waiting their turn” to fire off what they have already planned to say. The conversation is not a real “back and forth” exchange of ideas, leading to understanding, but more like a “duel” in which they can’t wait to get their “jab” in!

The Bible says we are not to sit and nod, not really listening, but waiting for “our turn”; but rather we are to seek “understanding” – to really LISTEN to the other person; to gain understanding, if not FROM them, then at least OF them – who are they; where are they coming from? Many of us do not do that. Instead they just watch for an “opening” for their next “monologue.”

What is revealing is that the Bible calls the person who “converses” in this fashion a “fool”! It is a “fool” who relates to others in this way! This should cause each of us to evaluate the goal of our own conversations. Are we just waiting our turn at the “microphone” in this conversation? Or do we really aim to build understanding of the person we are speaking with? Scripture says the goal of our conversation says a lot about US!