Wise? Foolish? What?

Proverbs 26:4-5 Don’t answer the foolish arguments of fools, or you will become as foolish as they are. 5 Be sure to answer the foolish arguments of fools, or they will become wise in their own estimation.
  
THIS made me wonder, “Is God speaking from both sides of his mouth?” No, of course not. Only a fool would say that! But there are plenty of fools in the world who could use a passage such as this to say, “Your God doesn’t know what he is saying.”
   What God is conveying through the wisdom writer is this: When someone speaks to you foolishly, do not engage in the same kind of foolish talk. It is easy to get caught up in an argument for the sake of arguing. We want to defend our position, even if we have no position. That’s our foolish nature. Instead, God instructs us to respond to the foolish argument with wisdom.
   For example, someone might tell you how ridiculous your clothes look. Do not respond to that person with your opinion of something you can criticize about her. More foolish talk only multiplies the problem. The only direction such an exchange will go is a destructive downward spiral to conflict. You don’t want to do that. It is a useless waste of time.  
   Instead, you would respond wisely to her with words of kindness about something positive you see in her. Tell her how nice she looks. Find something pleasant about the other person and compliment her. In other words, you would elevate the conversation out of criticism into thankfulness and praise. When you do so, the “foolish talker” may come to an understanding that her words are harmful. And hopefully she will change her foolish speech to wisdom. If she doesn’t, there’s nothing you can do about her words. But you can always be wise and control your own speech, your own thoughts and your own actions toward others. Know God’s wisdom to respond correctly.
   Overall, people will come to trust you. In you they will see a Godly person who knows self-control. Better to be patient than powerful; better to have self-control than to conquer a city. (Proverbs 16:32) The world needs to see godly people act as God. How else will they know how good God is if you don’t show them?
   Perhaps the Spirit will use your good counsel to transform a foolish heart.