The way of a fool is right in his own eyes; but he that is wise hearkeneth unto counsel.
This verse sets two men side by side: one who trusts his own judgement, and one who listens to advice. It raises a hard question — why can a man's own eyes be so sure and so wrong?
The fool's own eyes are his final court. William Kelly traces that back to a fallen nature trusting itself:
For a man with a fallen nature, living in a fallen world, to trust himself is to play the fool. God is not in any of his thoughts. He is sure he needs no advice; he is right in his own eyes. His eyes can only help him judge by appearances, which the Lord contrasts with judging righteous judgment. And what is more dangerous than any question about self? For there is nothing a man dislikes more than thinking badly of himself, unless it is believing good of God. Truly the way of a fool is right in his own eyes. The wise man distrusts himself and listens to counsel. He does not cheat God and his conscience by seeking advice from the weak and easy-going. He seeks it from the godly.
So asking around is not enough. A man can collect opinions and still be a fool, if he shops for the answer he already wants.
Being "right in his own eyes" is not the same as being right. The fool's inner measure is bent, and one writer asks how long that can last:
A fool's sense of right and wrong is badly corrupted, so that although his way is grossly bad, it is right to him. But for how long? He needs no counsel from anyone, while the wise man is glad to receive good counsel.
The same phrase describes a whole nation in the book of Judges, where everyone did what was right in his own eyes. Writing on that book, H. L. Rossier asks what conscience is actually for:
Each claimed to have the "light of his conscience" for guidance, while setting aside the true light of the word of God and no longer consulting it... In reality, conscience, for all its immense value to man, is not a guide but a judge — a completely different thing. Man refuses to listen to this judge, yet pretends to honour him by choosing him as a guide. But how will it lead him, when it may be asleep, hardened, or even seared?
A conscience can also be talked round. One writer comments on a related proverb, "Every way of a man is right in his own eyes":
A man's conscience will trouble him about many things. Even so, he is clever enough to silence the irritation by subtle reasoning, and to make evil appear good. How much wiser he would be to use the Lord's scales, and so be brought to repentance.
Advice bounces off for a reason. Pride leaves a man harder to help than an ordinary fool:
"Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him" (Prov. 26:12); of all fools, the conceited fool is the worst. Pride makes a man incapable of receiving counsel.
A wise man is not a man who never needs correction. The test is what he does when it comes:
A wise man may not always walk the path of wisdom; he may need reproof. A fool is one who never listens, though he is always ready to find fault. A wise man listens and weighs; when he recognises what is of God, he will love you for it.
Listening to advice is not weakness. It is how God keeps His people safe:
The humble are glad when others help them in their difficulties. They do not run down those with more discernment than themselves. "Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety." Whatever the proud spirit of independence may want, God's people have leaders and guides. No one can ignore or slight them without loss to himself. The Holy Spirit does not lead to self-conceit, but to genuine humility and a warm value for fellowship.
- Root — To trust yourself in a fallen world is to play the fool. The fool's problem is not bad information. It is a self he will not question.
- Reading — His eyes judge by appearances. His sense of right and wrong is corrupted, so even a bad way looks right to him.
- Reasoning — Conscience is a judge, not a guide. Make it the guide, and clever argument can silence it until evil looks good.
- Refusal — Pride blocks the ear. Pride makes a man unable to receive counsel, and leaves him harder to reach than a plain fool.
- Remedy — The wise man distrusts himself and weighs reproof. He loves the one who gives it. He asks the godly, not those who will agree with him.
The vexation of the fool is presently known; but a prudent [man] covereth shame.
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