“In one of Aesop’s Fables,
a donkey walking through the woods finds the skin of a lion. Hunters had killed
the lion and left the skin to dry in the sun. The donkey put on the lion’s skin
and was delighted to discover that all the other animals were terrified of him
and ran away when he appeared. Rejoicing in his newfound respect, the donkey
brayed his happiness—only to give himself away by his voice. The moral of the
fable was clear: fine clothes may disguise, but silly words will disclose a
fool.”*
The spread of social media
has magnified the spread of foolishness in our world. Everyone has an opinion, and regardless of
how foolish, inappropriate, or ugly it may be, there are numerous ways to
effectually share it (just watch the news tonight or check your phone if you
don’t believe me). Now, there have
always been influential people who have had far-reaching platforms to air their
views. But for the vast majority of the
rest of us, our foolishness had a
limited footprint. Only those in our
immediate circle of influence was subjected to our foolishness. But that has all changed. Now, with just a few clicks of the keyboard
or screen (and, sadly, often with little forethought), our foolishness can
literally be sent around the world.
The Bible, although written
long before the social media frenzy, has some some guidance for us. “When there are many words, transgression is
unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise” (Proverbs 10:19). “He who restrains his words has knowledge,
and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. Even a fool, when he
keeps silent, is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is considered
prudent” (Proverbs 17:27-28).
While social media can be a
tool for good, it can also facilitate the spread of much foolishness. Remember, not every opinion or thought we
have needs to be spoken or shared with the world. Think before you share.
Mike
*http://ministry127.com/resources/illustration/the-wisdom-of-silence-0
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