Who are Fools?

Do you think Clowns are the REAL FOOLS because they act silly? We call a person fool when they behave silly or act without commonsense. Don’t we all sometimes speak and act silly? When our feelings / emotions such as grief, anger or happiness overwhelm and overtake us, we do not think but act spontaneously and most of the time end up being foolish. Apart from these petty instances once in a while, we think we are pretty wise at all times. Isn’t it?

The bible is “The book of ultimate truth” and hence let us look for what it says regarding the subject.

OPENING THE TREASURE BOOK

WISDOM is considered as the ability to think and act using knowledge, experience, understanding and common sense. Foolishness is the exact opposite of that. Dictionary defines FOOL as a silly person who acts unwisely. What about biblical definition of fools?

The fool has said in his heart, “ There is no God.” They are corrupt, They have done abominable works, There is none who does good.

Psalms 14:1 NKJV

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

I Corinthians 1:18

In the bible, the people who do not believe in God are called FOOLS. The one who says in his heart “THERE IS NO GOD” is called a fool. For such people, the plan of salvation is foolishness. God sending His son Jesus to the world and Jesus enduring the cross for the sin of the world does not make any sense to them because they do not believe in God. They think they are wise but are silly and unwise before God. They are the real fools before God, not a clown.

So if people have been addressing you “a fool”, do not worry or bother because what matters is what God thinks about us. If you believe in God, in His son Jesus and in the message of cross, we are wise in the eyes of God.

For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man.”

Mark 7:20‭-‬23

Foolishness is to believe in the heart “there is no God”. This is evil and wicked before God. Like all other evil and wicked deeds, foolishness too originates from the heart because it is with the heart that we believe. Foolishness is at par with other wicked acts and defiles a person before God. Foolish people are on the road to eternal perishing because they do not believe in Jesus, the only way to eternal life.

Foolishness originates at the heart. It defiles a person and is evil before God.

A fool’s heart

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 1:7

A fool has no delight in understanding, But in expressing his own heart.

Proverbs 18:2

The wise in heart will receive commands, But a prating fool will fall.

Proverbs 10:8

A fool despises his father’s instruction, But he who receives correction is prudent.

Proverbs 15:5

The main characteristic of a foolish person is that they despise wisdom, instruction and correction. As we all know, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. But fools do not believe in God and hence His wisdom does not shine any light on them. They despise their father’s correction and do not have any heart for understanding. They delight in expressing their own heart. In simpler words, they do not perceive but only talk. If you despise wisdom, understanding & correction but only care about expressing your own heart, you will definitely end up being foolish in everything you do.

Embrace the wisdom from God and prepare your heart to receive instruction and commands. Never ever despise your father’s correction. They have seen life more than you have and they have more life experiences than you. Your father corrects you so that you do not make his mistakes but be an even greater achiever. Fools never understands this fact but despises elder’s correction.

A fools heart despises wisdom, correction and understanding.

A fool’s mouth

A fool vents all his feelings, But a wise man holds them back.

Proverbs 29:11

Whoever hides hatred has lying lips, And whoever spreads slander is a fool.

Proverbs 10:.‬18

A fool’s lips enter into contention, And his mouth calls for blows.

Proverbs 18:6

Another characteristic of fools are that, their mouths cannot be controlled. As we saw before, they do not take in corrections or instructions or try to understand any given situation but are interested in expressing their heart and venting out their feelings. Expressing your feelings about other people or situations might result in spreading slander. Speaking about others merely based on your feelings and without proper proof is totally wrong. It is slander. A fool never understands these or worry about the consequences of his words. They FEEL, and they SAY… This will bring them trouble. The mouth of a fool brings about disagreements, quarrels and even disputes. They do not think before they speak or evaluate the outcome of their words before bringing it out.

A fool’s mouth brings in trouble as words are spoken without thinking and only based on feelings.

A fool’s walk

See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
Ephesians 5:15‭-‬17 NKJV

Circumspect means being “careful to consider all circumstances and possible consequences”. It simply means to be prudent – to be careful and thoughtful for the future. Fools do not walk in prudence. They do not consider possible consequences of their walk, but walks in all kinds of paths that only leads to destruction. The only path leading to eternal life is Jesus as we learned in “Life the bigger picture“. Let us be prudent in our walk and the paths we take in life.

A fool’s walk leads them to destruction as they are imprudent.

Treasures uncovered

Prayer:

Father, thank you for teaching us that foolishness originates at the heart. Help us to believe in you and in your son Jesus. We thank you for the plan of salvation. Help us to be prudent in our walk and be careful in our talks. Help our heart to accept correction and delight in wisdom. In Jesus name, Amen.

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