The Fool Does Not Think About The Salvation Of His Soul
Wisdom also says:
For the waywardness of the naive will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them. But he who listens to me shall live securely and will be at ease from the dread of evil.
In this respect, Lord Jesus spoke to the people
And He told them a parable, saying, The land of a rich man was very productive. And he began reasoning to himself, saying, What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops? Then he said, This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come take your ease, eat, drink and be merry. But God said to him, You fool! This very night your soul is required of you and now who will own what you have prepared? So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
God give us fear of Him, because that is the beginning of wisdom and let us not neglect the teaching of Gods Word.
Translated by Felicia Rotaru
Why We Should Avoid Fools
Proverbs gives us a lot of advice on why we should avoid fools. They despise wisdom and instruction , dont appreciate knowledge but like to hear themselves speak , have hasty tempers , and repeats his foolish behavior .
In Isaiah 32:6, we discover the deeper-rooted issue of why arguing with a fool should be avoided and it has to do with more than just letting the person spout off at the mouth. In fact, its much more serious than that.
For the fool speaks folly, and his heart is busy with iniquity, to practice ungodliness, to utter error concerning the LORD, to leave the craving of the hungry unsatisfied, and to deprive the thirsty of drink .
A famous time management saying is that time spent in one area is time away from another. If we loosely apply that same concept to avoiding fools, we could say that time spent arguing with fools is time spent not in discussion with a non-fool. In other words, there are people who are hungry to hear the truth about Jesus. We should use our time finding them instead of wasting time with people who arent going to accept the truth.
Circling back to Mark Twain, one quote that we can properly attribute to him is Let us be thankful for the fools. But for them the rest of us could not succeed
While our success sometimes does hinge on the foolishness of others, its best to remember that God has called us to love each other with kindness and grace and to avoid arguments that lead, ultimately, nowhere.
Other Sources
Things The Bible Says About Fools
Proverbs has a lot to say about wisdom, and it also has a lot to say about foolishness. See if anything on this list surprises you:
I can always tell a fool, unless theyre hiding inside me. But Scriptureespecially Proverbshas a way of forcing me to confront uncomfortable truths. Thats why James said Scripture is like a mirror .
If youd like to learn more of what Proverbs has to say, Opening Up Proverbs will help you unlock these life-transforming truths. You can add it to your FSB for just $12.95.
The Faithlife Study Bible combines a modern English translation, three layers of detailed study notes, and rich multimedia to bring the Scriptures to life in a whole new way. from your favorite app store.
Read Also: Is Rhema Bible College Accredited
Bible Verses About Fools
Do not speak in the hearing of a fool,For he will despise the wisdom of your words.
He who walks with wise men will be wise,But the companion of fools will suffer harm.
A fool does not delight in understanding,But only in revealing his own mind.
A prudent man conceals knowledge,But the heart of fools proclaims folly.
A fool always loses his temper,But a wise man holds it back.
A fools lips bring strife,And his mouth calls for blows.
Do not answer a fool according to his folly,Or you will also be like him.
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,But a wise man is he who listens to counsel.
A fools mouth is his ruin,And his lips are the snare of his soul.
He who trusts in his own heart is a fool,But he who walks wisely will be delivered.
Do you see a man wise in his own eyes?There is more hope for a fool than for him.
Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.
Judgments are prepared for scoffers,And blows for the back of fools.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge Fools despise wisdom and instruction.
The wise will inherit honor,But fools display dishonor.
Do you see a man who is hasty in his words?There is more hope for a fool than for him.
Leave the presence of a fool,Or you will not discern words of knowledge.
Answer a fool as his folly deserves,That he not be wise in his own eyes.
He makes counselors walk barefootAnd makes fools of judges.
The Fool Says There Is No God
The word fool is used 71 times in the Book of Proverbs alone and since that word is used so frequently in the book of wisdom, there must be something inherently wrong with being a fool. Here is why. The Hebrew word for the word fool is nabal and means senseless so the fool basically, according to God, has no sense and why The fool says in his heart, There is no God’. He or she is a fool if they claim there is no God. For one thing, no one can ever conclusively prove that there is no God unless theyve been everywhere in the universe. Also, Psalm 19 proves that there must be a God because The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. If youve been out on a starry night, you must conclude that this universe and all its vastness did not cause or create itself. The order and symmetry of the heavenly bodies are like a well-tuned orchestra that works to perfection because God is a God of order and not of chaos or confusion .
Also Check: What Does Bible Say About Vaccines
Christian Quotes About Fools
Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom. Charles Spurgeon
A wise man may look ridiculous in the company of fools. Thomas Fuller
Many have been the wise speeches of fools, though not so many as the foolish speeches of wise men. Thomas Fuller
There is a difference between happiness and wisdom: he that thinks himself the happiest man is really so but he that thinks himself the wisest is generally the greatest fool. Francis Bacon
Wise men speak because they have something to say Fools because they have to say something. Plato
What can be more foolish than to think that all this rare fabric of heaven and earth could come by chance, when all the skill of art is not able to make an oyster! Jeremy Taylor
Wise men dont need advice. Fools wont take it. Benjamin Franklin
Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom. Charles Spurgeon
The wise man considers what he wants and the fool what he abounds in.
A fool knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.
There is nothing more foolish than an act of wickedness there is no wisdom equal to that of obeying God. Albert Barnes
When To Answer A Fool According To His Folly
Proverbs 26:5 tells us that under another set of circumstances we should answer the silly or immature person according to his folly, responding to his line of reasoning. The answer we give should expose the weakness of his thinking. His thinking needs to be challenged, for the persons sake, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
In other words, answer him, lest he think of himself as so cunning that his reasoning is sound.
These biblical proverbs do not illustrate Bible contradictions! Taken together, Proverbs 26:4-5 explain two different methods of handling the questions and statements of people who lack spiritual maturity .
This case is illustrated by Pauls example in 2 Corinthians 11:23. Certain men at Corinth claimed to be true apostles of Jesus Christ, but they were false apostles . For Paul to have remained silent at the time would have given tacit approval of these men who were seeking to lead the Church astray. They would have thought their reasoning was superior to Pauls and furthermore, they would have gained unwarranted influence over the people.
Under these circumstances, Paul responded: Are they ministers of Christ?I speak as a foolI am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often .
Read Also: What Does The Bible Say About Blood Transfusions
What Does Bible Say About Fools
Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes. Like cutting off one’s feet or drinking violence is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool. Like a lame man’s legs that hang limp is a proverb in the mouth of a fool. Like tying a stone in a sling is the giving of honor to a fool.
When To Not Argue With A Fool
In 1978, The Rochester Evening Express shared a quote from the Cincinnati Breakfast Table, Dont argue with a fool, or the listener will say there is a pair of you. Throughout the decades, this quote has been reworked and changed slightly.
A form of it has been incorrectly attributed to Mark Twain, Never argue with an idiot. Youll never convince the idiot that youre correct, and bystanders wont be able to tell whos who.
While both quotes provide excellent advice, lets dig into the meaning of the Scriptures again.
Barnes commentary on these two verses reveals the meaning behind when not to argue with a fool. In part: To answer a fool according to his folly is in Proverbs 26:4 to bandy words with him, to descend to his level of coarse anger and vile abuse.
In a nutshell, while everyone deserves basic human decency, not everyone deserves to be brought into a conversation, particularly when the other party is unable to respond in an appropriate manner.
Sometimes we have to walk away with words left unsaid.
You May Like: What Is The Chronological Order Of The Bible
What Does This Mean
Scripture warns us that a fool, in his denial of truth, ultimately believes in his heart that there is no God . This is not the type of person you want to spend too much time trying to impart wisdom to when it becomes clear that this person persistently ridicules your guidance.
However, in situations where the fool is publicly denying the existence of God or stirring up conflict with others, the Bible says that the fool deserves to be corrected for his folly through rebuke and instruction .
In fact, remaining silent when a fool is blaspheming God or leading others to sin may make you guilty of partaking in his sin .
Its important to note here that a foolish person can always reverse course and choose to open his heart to Scripture and wise counsel from others .
But change doesnt happen overnight, and it certainly doesnt stick if the person who needs to change isnt committed to doing so.
In the end, use your judgment to discern whether the person youre speaking to is making baseless but trivial statements or maliciously provoking people with blasphemy and lies. The first situation merits walking away from .
However, the second situation requires you to lean on your faith in confronting the fool so that your silence doesnt tacitly lend him credibility .
For further reading:
When To Argue With A Fool
Is it appropriate to argue with a fool? To fully answer this question, lets look at the word argue.
An argument is really a discussion with at least two viewpoints, or it can be a series of points to lead someone to a predetermined conclusion. While the word is often associated with yelling and fighting, its also used in legal terms such as prepare your closing arguments.
In Proverbs 26, some translations say not to argue with a fool. According to Strongs Concordance, the word can mean to give account to respond testify pay attention to answer. It doesnt mean to fight.
So, when is it okay to argue with a fool?
Answering a fool according to his folly lest he be wise in his own eyes doesnt mean were fighting, bickering, or being disobedient to the Scripture.
It means we use discernment to first assess if our words can be met with any type of understanding by the other party. If so, can we speak words of wisdom that might fall on ears that are willing to hear?
Jesus tells us in the Parable of the Sower that the seed is thrown onto different soil and ground types. Arguing with a fool could be the equivalent of throwing seed onto the rocky or thorny ground where it is destroyed or unable to take root. But there might be a time, according to Proverbs 26:5, that having a discussion with a fool might be an opportunity to let some seed on fertile soil.
The question is then, naturally, how do we know for sure?
Don’t Miss: Does The Bible Speak Against Cremation
Answer Not A Fool According To His Folly
Proverbs 26:4-5 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
The self-confident fool thinks too highly of himself and his opinions, and he shares them freely. How should a wise person deal with him? First, remember that giving him honor is no more fitting than snow falling in summer . Praise and respect will only confirm him in his conceit. So how should you deal with a talking fool? The advice in 26:4-5 seems contradictory.
Do not answer him according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself, that is, do not engage him on his own terms. During Jesus last public teaching in the Temple, Sadducees came to Him making fun of the Resurrection, with a story about seven brothers who each married the same woman as each brother died in turn. No children were born to any of the brothers. So, they asked, In the resurrection, when they rise again, whose wife will she be? For the seven had her as wife. If Jesus had answered according to their folly, he would have tried to answer the question, who would have her as wife the first, the last, her favorite? Answering that question would have drawn Jesus into their foolish thinking. It would be like trying to answer such queries as, What was God doing before He made the world?Can God make a square circle?If God is glorified by forgiving sins, should we not sin often?When did you stop beating your wife?
Three Types Of People God Calls A Fool
Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in.
| Rate: |
I think it necessary to begin by pointing out that there is abig difference between God and man.
Doubtless, there is someone out there who will be quick to pointout that Jesus said we are not supposed to call anyone a fool.While this is mostly true, the distinction that needs to be madehere is that it is one thing for you or I to use the word, butquite another when God uses it.
It is one thing for people, who cannot see into a persons heartand therefore rely on what they can see when judging another , to call someone a fool, but quite anotherfor God. God can see into your heart. It is God who knows yourthoughts. Before a word leaves your tongue, God not only knows whatit will be, but what it was that caused it. Thus, when Godpronounces a judgment, it is based on the truth of what a personis, not just on who he or she appears to be.
In addition to this, understand that when God calls someone afool, he does so because he is the Creator, and as such has a rightto judge his creatures. Are you aware that it is not sin for God toend a persons life? While it is sin for you or I to go out andmurder our neighbor, God presides over creation like the kings ofold, with absolute authority to take the life he gave. Therefore,not only is it not sin for God to judge one to be a fool, but hemust pronounce judgment if he is just and he is.
You May Like: How Many Times Does The Bible Say To Forgive