WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A FOOL

PROVERBS

Lesson 2: What it Means to be a Fool

"Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs, rather than a fool in his folly" --Prov.17:12

Categories of Fools:

"How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?" (1:22)

Simple ones – naïve, gullible, enter into things with little forethought. "The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going" (14:15). "A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished" (22:3).

Scorners (scoffers) - those convinced that they need no advice from God or man and who create contention with their mockery of wisdom. "A wise son heareth his father's instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke" (13:1). "Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly" (3:34). "A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise" (15:12). "Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath" (21:24).

Fools - pursues foolish and vain things, stupid, silly. "Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly" (15:21). "Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth" (17:24). "A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident" (14:16).

General Observations About Fools:

No respect for God's wisdom. "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction" (1:7). "The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the LORD" (19:3).

Mocks at sin. "It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom" (10:23). "Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour" (14:9). "The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil" (13:19).

Conceited and egotistical. "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise" (12:15). "A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth" (14:6). "A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident" (14:16). "Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth" (17:24).

Will not change. "A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool" (17:10). "As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly" (26:11). "Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him" (27:22).

Bad temper. "A fool's wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame" (12:16). "He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly" (14:29). "It is an honor for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling" (20:3). "Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease" (22:10). "A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool's wrath is heavier than them both" (27:3). "A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards" (29:11).

No control over tongue. "The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool (the foolish in lips) shall fall" (10:8). "Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction" (10:14). "He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool" (10:18). "A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing" (9:13). "In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them" (14:3). "The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness" (15:2). "Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince" (17:7).

Destined for trouble. "Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools" (19:29). "A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother" (10:1). "He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy" (17:21; also note 17:25;19:13). "He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart" (11:29). "Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands" (14:1). "There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up" (21:20). "A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back" (26:1,3).

Their teaching and advice is worthless. "The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools. As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools" (26:7,9).

Our Obligation to Foolish People

Flee from him. "He that followeth vain persons is void of understanding" (12:11b). "He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed" (13:20). "Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge" (14:7). "Scornful men bring a city into a snare: but wise men turn away wrath" (29:8).

Do not entrust him with responsibility. "He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage" (26:6).

Do not honor him. "As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool. As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool" (26:1,8).

Worthless to teach him. "Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee" (9:8). "Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words" (23:9). "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." (26:4,5). "If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man, whether he rage or laugh, there is no rest" (29:9). Remember Matt. 7:6.