Don’t Be A Fool
by Micky Galloway
As I get older, one of the most difficult things for me is to see folks making foolish decisions; decisions that I know are going to afflict them with severe consequences. Proverbs 7 describes a young man going after the “strange woman” as “among the simple ones … void of understanding … he goeth after her straightway, As an ox goeth to the slaughter, Or as (one in) fetters to the correction of the fool; Till an arrow strike through his liver; As a bird hasteth to the snare, And knoweth not that it is for his life” (Proverbs 7:7; 22-23). How can one help but lament for such a one? Oh, how it hurts to see someone we love make decisions when we know the consequences are going to be so very tragic. If we could see the end from the beginning, we would not make these foolish decisions.
The Bible itself describes certain people as “fool.” The Hebrew word depicts a simpleton and is used thirteen times in Proverbs to denote one who is “morally deficient … lacking in sense and is generally corrupt” (Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament).Who does God call a “fool”? Read and consider carefully.
Those who will not listen; a “know-it-all.” “The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge; (But) the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.” “Speak not in the hearing of a fool; For he will despise the wisdom of thy words.” “How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? And scoffers delight them in scoffing, And fools hate knowledge?” “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes; But he that is wise hearkeneth unto counsel.” “He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool” (Proverbs 1:7; 23:9; 1:22; 12:15; 28:26). Some make the mistake of following the advice of such fools. Rehoboam was one who made this mistake (I Kings 12:6-15). The wise man is one who surrounds himself with wise men and will listen; the fool will not.
Those who will not heed warnings. “A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil; But the fool beareth himself insolently, and is confident.” “A prudent man seeth the evil, and hideth himself; But the simple pass on, and suffer for it.” “The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul; But it is an abomination to fools to depart from evil.”“As a dog that returneth to his vomit, (So is) a fool that repeateth his folly” (Proverbs 14:16; 22:3; 13:19; 26:11). Wise men heed warnings and learn from mistakes; fools do not.
Those who are deceived by strong drink. “Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler; And whosoever erreth thereby is not wise” (Proverbs 20:1; cf. 23:32). I’m not a poet, but this unknown author stated it just right. Note the foolishness of the nature of a “bar.”
A bar to heaven, a door to hell;
Whoever named it, named it well.
A bar to manliness and wealth;
A door to want and broken health.
A bar to honor, pride, and fame;
A door to grief and sin and shame.
A bar to home and a bar to prayer;
A door to darkness and despair.
A bar to honored useful life;
A door to brawling, senseless strife.
A bar to all that’s true and brave;
A door to every drunkard’s grave.
A bar to joys that home imparts;
A door to tears and aching hearts.
A bar to heaven, a door to hell;
Whoever named it, named it well.
Those who mock at sin. “A trespass-offering mocketh fools; But among the upright there is good will” (Proverbs 14:9). Jeremiah spoke of those who had stolen, lied, and cheated as being without remorse or blushing (Jeremiah 8:12; 6:15). Sin is rebellion against God and it separates one from God (Isaiah 59:1-2). Yet, many treat it lightly. The wise man considers sin a serious thing, a matter of life or death; the fool does not.
Those who are contentious and get angry easily. “A fool’s lips enter into contention, And his mouth calleth for stripes.” “A wise man is cautious and turns away from evil, But a fool is arrogant and careless. A quick-tempered man acts foolishly …” (NASU). “Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry; for anger resteth in the bosom of fools” (Proverbs 18:6; Proverbs 14:16-17; Ecclesiastes 7:9). A wise man is slow to wrath (James 1:18-21); the fool is not.
Those who say in their hearts that there is no God. “The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God” (Psalms 14:1). The Gentile world before Christ demonstrated this truth (Romans 1:21-28). “Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God for the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things” (1:22-23). The wise man beholds the abundance of evidence declaring the glory of God; the fool will not.
Those who hear, but will not obey. We are careful to teach our little ones the song about the wise man and the foolish man; then somehow in our own lives we miss the point! “Every one therefore that heareth these words of mine, and doeth them, shall be likened unto a wise man, who built his house upon the rock: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon the rock. And every one that heareth these words of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and smote upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall thereof” (Matthew 7:21-27). Jesus divides humanity into two classes, the wise and foolish. The wise man will hear and obey; the fool will not.
The Bible discusses many types of fools. It teaches that those who fail to make adequate preparation, who lay up treasures for themselves, but are not rich toward God, are fools (Matthew 25:1-13; Luke 12:16-21). What about you? Are you wise or foolish? This is your choice! If you have been a fool in the past, you don’t have to remain a fool! We urge you to be wise and begin now to prepare to meet God. Don’t be a fool!