A Fool from Context

(Proverbs 23:9 KJV)  Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.

From the context of the previous verses it would seem that a “fool” (3684) is someone who is consumed with getting rich.  It would not matter how wise he seemed in any other area of life, if his overriding ambition is to be rich, he is a fool.

Sooner or later a person who makes money his goal will make money his god.  That means that any chunks of righteous character will start to become servants of the dominant theme.  In that way things like honesty will become victims of expediency.  Justice will fall to circumstance.  Kindness will be set aside for later.  Holiness will become a joke.

So?  Make a good living.  Accept the promotion.  Change jobs.  There is nothing wrong with any of that, but don’t let the pursuit of wealth dwarf the important things of life.  Such priority is a one way ticket to Hell.