Living the Life of a Fool

Living The Life Of A Fool                                                             August 21, 2022

“The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man is he who listens to counsel.” (Proverbs 12:15)

“He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but he who walks wisely will be delivered.” (Proverbs 28:26)

“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 lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” (Luke 12:19-21)

“The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ (Psalms 14:1)

No one likes to be called a fool.  Have you ever been called such?  It makes you feel so stupid as it depicts you as being one who lacks the intelligence of the normal person.  It hurts even more when someone calls you such in the presence of others. 

According to Jesus in Matthew 5:22 anyone who calls his brother who follows God a fool is guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.  Pretty serious warning here.  Yet there are some who may justify doing such on the basis that Solomon, David and Jesus refer to others as being fools as noted in the scriptures listed above.  However, the difference in its usage is this:  Jesus condemns calling a brother a fool because he doesn’t agree with you or because you’re angry at them.  Belittling someone this way especially in public is an indication of one’s evil heart whereas recognizing that someone’s actions are foolish compared to the ways of God is more of an observation than a condemnation.

But what about the fools mentioned in the verses above that Solomon, David and Jesus refer to?  How are they “fools?”  They are fools when they think their ways are always right and when they are unwilling to listen to the counsel of others.  They trust only in their own feelings; whatever their heart tells them and refuse help and deliverance from others when it is most needed.  Fools pride themselves in their accomplishments and make plans based on their achievements without any regard for the needs of others and the fact that they could die at any moment and all that they worked for and saved will be given to someone else.  A person is clearly a fool when they don’t believe in the existence of God.  According to Romans 1:20 mankind has no excuse in not believing in God’s existence since His invisible attributes are clearly seen (recognized) in the things that He has made.  Only a fool would care to differ.

So the way that we live before God & man reveals whether our actions are foolish or wise.  When it comes to pleasing God the world may regard Christians to be foolish but it would be better to be so viewed by men than by God.  In I Corinthians 4:10 Paul said that the apostles were fools for Christ’s sake.  What an honor to be such a fool!!

What fool are you, a fool for Christ or a fool for self?

Brian Thompson