Foolproof

Ephesians  •  Sermon  •  Submitted
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We’ve all made really bad, stupid decisions....
-A business deal we should have avoided.
-A purchase we shouldn’t have made.
-A relationship/marriage we should
-Jobs we wish we wouldn’t have taken.
-A quiz we should have studied for.
Some decisions have even greater implications..
-drugs we should have never tried
-drugs we should have never tried
-relationships we shouldn’t have walked away from
-Marriages we should have never entered into
In hindsight, it’s easy to see our faulty decision making.
-But we can’t go back and undo the consequences of our decisions.
It’s easy to see when someone else is about to make a poor decision.
But, when it’s us....emotions cloud our vision, circumstances pressure us and suddenly our thinking gets fuzzy and we end up making a decison (often in haste) that we later regret.
Imagine if we could see and think clearly before we make a stupid decision.

Nine-tenths of wisdom consists in being wise in time. Theodore Roosevelt

I think we all would desire that.
And here’s the thing - so does God!
READ
So, we’re talking about wisdom…Being Wise!
And it’s contrasted with being a fool.
We’ve all done foolish things, made foolish decisions…but are you a fool?

Characteristics of a Fool

A fool always thinks he’s right ()

Proverbs 12:15 KJV 1900
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: But he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.

A fool despises instruction (; )

Proverbs 1:22 KJV 1900
How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? And the scorners delight in their scorning, And fools hate knowledge?
Proverbs 15:5 KJV 1900
A fool despiseth his father’s instruction: But he that regardeth reproof is prudent.

“Only a fool knows everything”

A fool trusts his feelings, impulses and emotions ()

Proverbs 28:26 KJV 1900
He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: But whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.

A fool repeats the same mistakes ()

Proverbs 26:11 KJV 1900
As a dog returneth to his vomit, So a fool returneth to his folly.

Characteristics of the Wise

Ephesians 5:15 KJV 1900
See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,

“walk circumspectly” - looking around; carefully

Illust - On patrol in Afghanistan
1 Peter 5:8 KJV 1900
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

LOOK WHERE YOU’RE GOING

(portrait of a foolish young man)

The fool wanders, the wise man travels

Because he has no destination in mind, the fool winds up in places he shouldn’t be doing things he shouldn’t do…and ultimately will end up in a destination he regrets.
-He didn’t intend to…he just didn’t intend not to.
Life’s Goal - Glorify God
What is the goal?
-Glorify God
Then what are the mini-goals the accomplish that?
-Financially (no goals - debt, lack of savings)
-Relationally (meet a nice guy, have a good time)
-Educationally (get through school)
-Vocationally (get through the week)
1 Peter 5:8 KJV 1900
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Once you’ve established your goals then it’s important to establish what you’re doing to accomplish those goals.
-I want to lose weight (still going to Golden Corral weekly)
-I want to start saving money (still spending more than you make)
-I want to grow spiritually (not reading your Bible, not coming to church, small group, etc.)

Direction, not intention, determines your destiny!

Galatians 6:7–8 KJV 1900
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

What you sow now you will reap later.

Direction, not intention, determines destination!

You don’t sow corn and get beans

LOOK WHO YOU’RE WITH

Proverbs 13:20 KJV 1900
He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: But a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

You are the average of the 5 people with whom you spend the most time. Jim Rohm

LOOK AT, AND LISTEN TO, THOSE YOU WANT TO BE LIKE

Hebrews 6:12 KJV 1900
That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Learn from your mistakes........ Learn from the mistakes of others....Learn from others who haven’t made the mistakes

Learn from the mistakes of others
Learn from the lives of those that aren’t making those mistakes
Learn from those that haven’t made the mistakes
The fool thinks he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be capable of foolishness.
Proverbs 11:2 KJV 1900
When pride cometh, then cometh shame: But with the lowly is wisdom.
Proverbs 12:15 KJV 1900
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: But he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.
The fool doesn’t listen to anybody - or at least the right people.
Proverbs 19:20–21 KJV 1900
Hear counsel, and receive instruction, That thou mayest be wise in thy latter end. There are many devices in a man’s heart; Nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand.
Proverbs 19:20 KJV 1900
Hear counsel, and receive instruction, That thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.
The wise person
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