Are You a Fool?--Posted 04/02/2006

Yesterday America "celebrated" one of it's unofficial holidays, April Fool's Day, which of course is every year on April 1st.

Someone that I work with "fooled" me by saying, "Hey, you have a big hole in the back of your pants."

I fell for it... hook, line, and sinker. I suppose I was the "fool".

Believe it or not God's Word addresses the issue of fools.

First of all, what is a fool?

My definition of  a fool is this; someone who proves his or her ignorance(stupidity) by his or her actions and words.

A fool can be anyone who "thinks" they know more than they really know.

Psalm 53:1 tells us of the "Atheistic Fool".

"The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth
good." (emphasis mine)

A fool, one who says that there is no God.

The atheist. But, not only the atheist.

One who "says in his heart" there is no God, he is a fool. Not neccessarily just those who voice it with their lips. This could be a
multitude of people.

Someone who intentionally disobeys God is saying to God, "You do not exist".

That is a bold statement. But it is true. If someone truly believes in an almighty, living God, they will prove it through obedience to
His Word.

Only a fool would say there is no God.

Proverbs 10:18 speaks of the "Slandering Fool".

"He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool." (emphasis mine)

A slanderer, or someone who makes a false statement or report about someone else to damage that persons reputation, is a fool.

Gossipers and backbiters are fools.

Those who try to spread rumors about people are fools.

Any damaging statement made about someone can place a person into the catergory of "fool".

The slandering fool.

Proverbs 14:9 tells of the "Mocking Fool".

"Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour." (emphasis mine)

This is referring to a scoffer. Someone who ridicules and derides those who strive to live outside of sin.

The jeering sinner who "makes fun" of the Christian who is different from those in the world is this kind of fool. But, this writer of
Proverbs said, "...but among the righteous there is favour."

Those who are righteous, right according to God's instruction, are favoured by God.

The mocking fool.

Proverbs 15:5 shows the "Irreprovable Fool".

"A fool despiseth his father's instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent." (emphasis mine)

Those who cannot be reproved or disciplined are fools.

You can find these kind almost anywhere, even in the church-world.

The heavenly "father" reproves his children. Part of the life of a Christian is to accept God's correction. You must be willing to
allow God to chasten you in order to perfect you.

That is the reason parents correct their children, to make them "turn out good". God's reproving needs to be allowed and received
in the life of his child, otherwise, that is a fool.

The irreprovable fool.

Proverbs 18:6 speaks of the "Contentious Fool".

"A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes." (emphasis mine)

The argumentative or quarrelsome are fools.

There are some people who will argue over anything. I mean, they will practically make up something just to have a debate.

I have met folks who can and will argue over scripture, doctrine, standards of living, and about anything else you can think.

These people are fools. Simply put, it is stupid to argue.

Arguing and bickering is just like a rocking chair; it gives you something to do, but you don't get anywhere.

The contentious fool.

Proverbs 20:3 shows the "Meddling Fool".

"It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling." (emphasis mine)

The nosey, can't mind-their-own-business type.

That is a fool.

Interfering in other's affairs is sinful unless you are invited.

Unless I invite you into my home at midnight, don't walk in and expect to be welcomed warmly. You may not like what transpires.

The same principle applies in life. We need to stay out of other people's business.

The meddling fool.

Proverbs 28:26 gives us the "Self-Confident Fool".

"He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered." (emphasis mine)

The Bible addresses this several times, relying on self.

It is unwise to depend upon yourself. That is the absolute opposite of what the world teaches.

Proverbs 3:5 teaches to, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding."

God is the only "sure-thing" in life.

Man will fail. I will fail. You will fail.

God CANNOT fail.

The self-confident fool.

Jeremiah 17:11 tells us of the "Dishonest Fool".

"As the partridge sitteth on the eggs, and hatcheth them not; so he that getteth riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the
midst of his days, and at his end shall be a fool." (emphasis mine)

The man who "gets by not doing" is this kind of fool. No riches are worth dishonesty.

The world will try to offer you many things for dishonesty. Even the "holiday" mentioned earlier is centered around this idea,
dishonesty.

True integrity is measured by man's honesty no matter what the circumstance.

I personally have defended this standard of "honesty in all circumstances". Some are convinced that if the truth is painful it should
be hidden. That is far from correct in God's eyes.

The dishonest fool.

Luke 11:39,40 speaks of the "Hypocritical Fool".

"And the Lord said unto him, 'Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and platter; but your inward part is full of
ravening and wickedness. Ye fools, did not he that made that which is without make that which is within also?' " (emphasis mine)

Hypocrites are one of the worst detriments to God's kingdom. Those who say one thing and live another do more damage to the
growth of the church-world than any other.

Many folks have left churches because of hypocrites. Of course, this is where you will find them, in churches.

These Pharisees had it all wrong. They were only concerned with the outward appearance of man, and not with the condition of
the heart and soul.

There certainly are standards of living concerning the outward appearance of a Christian, but that is NOT what God bases his
judgment of man upon. God looks straight to the soul, and views the motives and intentions of that heart.

A TRUE CHRISTIAN will be pure inwardly first, and then God will help them "clean-up" the outside of the vessel.

The hypocritical fool.

I Corinthians 4:10 introduces the last type of fool mentioned here, the "Fool for Christ's Sake".

This is the type of fool you want to be.

"We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised."
(emphasis mine)

You say, "I don't want to be labeled a 'fool' ."

If it is for anything, let it be for Christ's sake.

Be a fool for Him.

Let Him do your thinking. (Be stupid to the things of the world) Have the "mind of Christ".

Do not fall into one of the other catergories of fool, be a fool for God!

If you can't say that you are, then make that decision right now.

II Corinthians 6:2 says,"...behold, NOW is the accepted time; behold, NOW is the day of salvation.)”  (emphasis mine)