Don’t Be Foolish

As I mentioned in the previous post, we live in a day when many people think right and wrong is determined by one’s own choices or public opinion rather than being an absolute standard.  In II Timothy 4:3-4 Paul warned about the current attitude of many people.  “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”  He said they would ignore the facts, choosing leaders and teachers who tell them what they are doing is okay and that they are right regardless of the facts. 

Proverbs 12:15 tells us, “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes…”, and they don’t to hear anything that implies they might be wrong.  Their only interest is in understanding their feeling better, as Proverbs 18:2 tells us.  “A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.”  Psychology is so popular today because it helps people understand their feelings without having to feel responsible or having to answer to God for what they do. 

Romans 1:21-23 tells us the problem starts with the attitude toward God.  “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.  Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.”  By denying God’s creation through the theory of evolution or by convincing people that he is no more than a more powerful human or some kind of animal they are able to justify ignoring his standards and authority.  That they ignore his authority or power does not reduce it, but only shows them to be fools who refuse to accept reality. 

The ignorance is by choice, and they will not consider any other opinion.  Proverbs 29:9 tells us, “If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man, whether he rage or laugh, there is no rest.”  Proverbs 26:4-5 advises, “Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.  Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.”  If you give in and go along with him, you become just like him, but if you try to correct him he ignores the facts, convinced he is smarter than you.   

At that point, the only thing that can be done is to allow him to learn the hard way.  He will not appreciate your efforts, and is unlikely to come for advice in the future.  Proverbs 15:12 warns, “A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise.” Even disastrous results may not convince the fool to change his mind.  Proverbs 17:10 tells us, “A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.”  He would lose everything including his own life and soul than to admit he was wrong.  Proverbs 15:32 tells us, “He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.”

If we are Christians, we can avoid being such fools by following God’s principles.  Ephesians 5:14-16 tells us, “Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.  See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.