So, here’s the crucial inquiries for your future and our being: Could you give up all one's worldly possessions? Will we be ashamed of believing what the Bible teaches when the world calls us fools or worse? Or will we out-rejoice the world, not only in spite of their insults, but because of them? Will we be like Paul who said in 2 Corinthians 12:10, “For the sake of Christ, I am” — take a deep breath — “content with insults”? Will we?
“For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight” 1 Corinthian 3:19
Once you start to receive the knowledge and wisdom of God flowing into your life, you will find something very interesting that will start to happen. You will start to see the difference between the knowledge and wisdom of God versus the knowledge and wisdom of this world.
I use to love to openly discussed Politics, Sports as well as someone’s age or favorite desert. I even would get defensivewhen non-Christians mocked our beliefs or used Gods name in vain. These days, political opinions are blasted on social media with outrage, shout-a-thon talk shows, as well within families where they are tied, it seems, inextricably to one’s moral compass. Politics are stressing people out as much as work and money. The problem is a lack of listening and a cultural belief that relationships are kind of disposable. Rather than being civil and listen to their believes and then share you believes and find a common ground to have a discussion; it has become normal to call each other losers and cut people off completely. Just recently, it was suggested to me by a family member that I need to choose between Eternal Punishment or Eternal Life because of my Political views. I thought to myself this question, “What is a Godly decision “needed now? That is when I started carrying around the following scripture:
“The lips of fools bring them strife, and their mouths invite a beating”. Proverbs 18:6
Jesus' strategy when He was arrested, stripped naked, scourged and interrogated and when Jesus was being reviled, 1 Peter 2:23 says, "He did not revile back; when He suffered, He did not threaten." He trusted the Father to vindicate Him. If you are mocked for your faith, keep your cool and bite your lip. Don't let angry people push your button or lash out in anger.God will give you wise words to say if you let His love control your tongue. Pray for your enemies. Jesus said it best in Matthew 5:43-44: "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you." How many of us actually obey that commandment?
For me, the first word that came to mind was “Foolishness” but as always scripture comforted me to have a mindset to be meek and humble. I keep the following scripture in my pocket to remind me to put wisdom into action:
“By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established
” Proverbs 24:3
“Think of the Messiah, meek and gentle; then think of me, Paul – yes, Paul himself! – making his appeal to you. You know what I’m like: I’m humble when I’m face to face with you, but I’m bold when I’m away from you! Please, please don’t put me in the position of having to be bold when I’m with you, of having to show how confident I dare to be when I’m standing up to people who think we are behaving in a merely human way”. 2 Corinthians 10:1-2
When I first heard the mention of the word fool it at once made me laugh. The first person I considered was the comedian Richard Pryor, followed by Eddie Murphy, Bernie Mac, Redd Foxx, Chris Rock, Moms Mabley, Robin Williams, George Carlin, followed by the Three Stooges, Larry, Curly, and Mo. It is interesting to me that none of these men fit the definition which Proverbs gives us of the fool. The “fools” I thought of are all funny, rather harmless and basically well-intentioned and innocent. All of them evoke a certain sense of pity, mixed with great amusement. Not so with the fool in the Book of Proverbs This is but one of the reasons why the study of “the fool” is important, “someone who disregards God’s Word”, The unbelievers or skeptics. They continue doing the same foolish things over and over again, to their own destruction Proverbs 18:7. To Graphically illustrate the behavior of fools: “As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly.”
“Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practices like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” Matthew 7:24-27
The story above speaks about two men and each needing to build a house.The first man was foolish and chose to build on sandy soil where it was easy to access and easy to dig the foundations. In a few short weeks he was almost finished.
The second man was wise and chose to build his house on a rocky hill, where it was very hard to access and to dig the foundation. He spent many months building his house.
As time passed a huge storm broke upon the houses of these men. After much rain, a flood swept through the valley and the man's house that was built on the sand was swept away. But the second man who had built on the rocky hill was safe. No matter how hard it rained or how fierce the floods were his house remained solid and immovable.
Let's ask ourselves the question. What's the foundation of our life? Are we like the foolish man, are our lives built on sand? What about our lives? When Satan brings temptations and trials to us it may feel like we are being battered by a flood!
The Bible has much to say about fools. The word fool today usually means “a senseless fellow, a dullard.” The biblical definition has the added dimension of “someone who disregards God’s Word.” The Bible lists many characteristics of such a person, often contrasting him with one who is wise. Ecclesiastes 10:2 says, “The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left.”
When the Bible in general speaks of foolishness it describes a moral and spiritual condition. Not a low IQ.The following is a partial list of some characteristics of a fool from the book of Proverbs: a fool hates knowledge takes no pleasure in understanding (18:2), enjoys wicked schemes Proverbs 10:23 proclaims folly Proverbs 12:23 spurns a parent’s discipline (15:5), speaks perversity (19:1), is quick-tempered (12:16), gets himself in trouble with his proud speech (14:3), mocks at sin (14:9), is deceitful (14:8), and despises his mother (15:20). A foolish child brings grief to his or her parents (17:25; 19:13). A foolish woman tears down her own house (14:1).
I truly believe that a believer can live a life of wisdom that honors God, instead of a foolish life that dishonors him.
Believers live a life of wisdom by making the most of their time. “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity”.Colossians 4:5
Believers live a life of wisdom by understanding God’s willfor all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God”. Romans 8:14
Believers live a life of wisdom by staying sober.“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour”.1 Peter 5:8
Believers live a life of wisdom by being filled with the Spirit. “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit.”Ephesians 5:18
To someone today, I challenge you to turn the hearts of those exhibiting foolishness toward wisdom and possibly save their lives and their eternal souls James 5:20. This is how I respond to their foolish behavior:
1. I pray for them. God is able change anybody. Don’t ever give up. You can’t change them but you can pray for God to change them.
2. Keep the right attitude and motivation toward these foolish people. It’s easy to become judgmental and arrogant toward them. Remember, God loves them as much as He loves you.
3. Be prepared to set boundaries and protect yourself from being harmed by foolish people.
We do not have the power or the right to condemn anyone to hell. That position of judgment belongs only to God. A Christian cannot be “damned” because he or she has been purchased by the blood of Christ Colossians 1:14). We can and should, however, do all we can to turn the hearts of those exhibiting foolishness toward wisdom and possibly save their lives and their eternal souls (James 5:20).
God Bless You and This Ministry!
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