Don't Be the Fool

The simple fool is gullible, they don’t check and verify what they have been told but consider it fact no matter the source. They aren’t aware of danger because they aren’t looking for it. Not just physical danger but moral danger.

Proverbs 14:15 “The inexperienced one believes anything, but the sensible one watches his steps.”

Proverbs 22:3 “A sensible person sees danger and takes cover, but the inexperienced keep going and are punished.”

Proverbs 22:5 “There are thorns and snares on the way of the crooked; the one who guards himself stays far from them.”

The simple fun, fun in the stupid things.

Proverbs 15:21 “Foolishness brings joy to one without sense, but a person with understanding walks a straight path.”

Proverbs 12:11 “The one who works his land will have plenty of food, but whoever chases fantasies lacks sense.”

They aren’t willing to listen and heed advice, they just throw it of, they think their way is more “fun”. They have an attitude toward authority and instruction that it is just “no fun” and they “don’t get it.” The fool thinks it is easy to earn wealth, that all you need is a smart scheme and you can make it.

The simple can learn from the difficulties others go through.

Proverbs 19:25 “Strike a mocker, and the inexperienced learn a lesson; rebuke the discerning, and he gains knowledge.”

But if the simple don’t learn then they will become a fool. Proverbs 14:18 “The inexperienced inherit foolishness, but the sensible are crowned with knowledge.”

The fool doesn’t learn, by puts himself in situations where he is with other foolish people. They don’t search for knowledge so they get foolishness.

The fool

The stubborn fool

So if the simple becomes a fool, what is the characteristic of the fool?

Convinces himself he doesn’t need help, and has no patience to gain wisdom. In fact he looks for others to support his foolishness.

Proverbs 17:24 “Wisdom is the focus of the perceptive, but a fool’s eyes roam to the ends of the earth.”

Even though wisdom is right in front of him he doesn’t look at it. Even though it is hard to miss, he looks everywhere but where wisdom is. The fool is attracted by temptations, it is seized by greed, he looks at the shiny object.

Proverb 15:14 “A discerning mind seeks knowledge, but the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.”

Proverbs 15:2 “The tongue of the wise makes knowledge attractive, but the mouth of fools blurts out foolishness.”

Proverbs 17:16 “Why does a fool have money in his hand with no intention of buying wisdom?”

the fool doesn’t even know what to do when he has the right resources to succeed, he just finds an opportunity to do what he was already doing, not to grow or succeed. In fact, this verse can be translated “he has no mind to learn”. He doesn’t have a heart or will to use resources wisely. Again, just wasting away opportunities given to him.

Proverbs 26:7 “A proverb in the mouth of a fool is like lame legs that hang limp.” Proverbs 26:9 “A proverb in the mouth of a fool is like a stick with thorns, brandished by the hand of a drunkard.”

The fool, even though he deals with punishments and finds himself in trouble time and time again, can’t seem to recognize how it is his own fault. In fact, no one even takes the fool seriously or his words seriously. Even if he speaks something that is true, his character and actions means no one wants to listen. If you have ever wondered “why doesn’t my teacher listen to me?” Well maybe consider if your actions have led you to be someone who is trustworthy.

Proverbs 17:10 “A rebuke cuts into a perceptive person more than a hundred lashes into a fool.”

He keeps going back to his foolishness time and time again. Proverbs 26:11 “As a dog returns to its vomit, so also a fool repeats his foolishness.” He prefers not even to think about his foolishness. Proverbs 14:8 “The sensible person’s wisdom is to consider his way, but the stupidity of fools deceives them.”

The fool continues back to their foolishness no matter how much it hurts them, no matter the consequences. They don’t learn from their mistakes. He is so sure that he is right that he doesn’t listen no matter who is telling them that they are wrong. They wise person considers if they are acting in the right way, the fool just says “whatever, I am doing to act this way anyways.”

The fool is someone you should stay away from because at best they waste your time.

Proverbs 14:7 “Stay away from a foolish person; you will gain no knowledge from his speech.” You won’t find a word of sense from a foolish person.

Another thing the fool doesn’t recognize is the burden they are to those close to them.

Proverbs 10:1 “Solomon’s proverbs: A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son, heartache to his mother.”

Proverbs 17:21 “A man fathers a fool to his own sorrow; the father of a fool has no joy.”

Proverbs 17:25 “A foolish son is grief to his father and bitterness to the one who bore him.”

Proverbs 15:20 “A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish man despises his mother.”

At worst, he leads you to danger.

Proverbs 17:12 “Better for a person to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his foolishness.”

Proverbs 10:23 “As shameful conduct is pleasure for a fool, so wisdom is for a person of understanding.”

Proverbs 18:6 “A fool’s lips lead to strife, and his mouth provokes a beating.”

Proverbs 29:11 “A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise person holds it in check.”

Proverbs 13:20 CSB

The one who walks with the wise will become wise, but a companion of fools will suffer harm.

These get to the point that the fool brings himself to danger. The wise man can control himself so that he doesn’t get into danger. But the fool talks himself into trouble. Even those who associate with fools are bound to find themselves in danger.

The fool is irritable, and overconfident, thinking they can win any fight. They play with fire when they start these fights, and act from their feelings. They have a hot temper, moving to violence quickly.

Peter warns about this person in 2 Peter 2:20-22

2 Peter 2:20–22 CSB

For if, having escaped the world’s impurity through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in these things and defeated, the last state is worse for them than the first. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than, after knowing it, to turn back from the holy command delivered to them. It has happened to them according to the true proverb: A dog returns to its own vomit, and, “A washed sow returns to wallowing in the mud.”

The point Peter makes is that you know the truth, if you have heard from God’s Word, if you have heard the truth, and yet you still act against it, then it would have been better if you hadn’t even heard it at all. Because now you are truly showing how foolish you are.

The blatant fool

What the fool doesn’t know is how he is perceived by others.

Proverbs 13:16 “Every sensible person acts knowledgeably, but a fool displays his stupidity.”

Proverbs 12:23 “A shrewd person conceals knowledge, but a foolish heart publicizes stupidity.”

Proverbs 17:28 “Even a fool is considered wise when he keeps silent— discerning, when he seals his lips.”

Proverbs 24:7 “Wisdom is inaccessible to a fool; he does not open his mouth at the city gate.”

Proverbs 10:14 CSB

The wise store up knowledge, but the mouth of the fool hastens destruction.

The fool’s character is shown in his conduct, it is very easy for others to see. There is no secret to his foolishness, it is all about his ability to know when is the right time to talk and act, and when it is improper and unwise. In this context, that is all that separates a wise person and a foolish person. It isn’t that the wise person is smarter, or knows more, or even more “mature”. It is only the perception because of their ability to contain themselves and have discretion in their words and actions. What these verses aim to show is that a fool is able to recognize when it is best just to shut up and listen when someone else is trying to teach and help them. And if they are able to, they are rewarded, they are rewarded because they have learned when to have sense.

He doesn’t know when to let things go and arguing with them is making you look foolish yourself.

Proverbs 20:3 “Honor belongs to the person who ends a dispute, but any fool can get himself into a quarrel.”

Proverbs 12:6 “The words of the wicked are a deadly ambush, but the speech of the upright rescues them.”

Proverbs 27:3 “A stone is heavy, and sand a burden, but aggravation from a fool outweighs them both.”

Proverbs 29:9 “If a wise person goes to court with a fool, there will be ranting and raving but no resolution.”

The blatant fool looks for trouble because he finds it fun. They are obnoxious. They are actively pursuing trouble and causing difficulties for others. It isn’t even worth arguing with them because they are just trying to get you heated up. They trap you by getting you just as heated up as they are.

The fool blatantly ignores the advice of others.

Proverbs 1:7 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and discipline.”

Proverbs 10:8 “A wise heart accepts commands, but foolish lips will be destroyed.”

Proverbs 12:15 “A fool’s way is right in his own eyes, but whoever listens to counsel is wise.”

Proverbs 15:5 “A fool despises his father’s discipline, but a person who accepts correction is sensible.”

Proverbs 14:9 “Fools mock at making reparation, but there is goodwill among the upright.”

They are unconcerned by the damage they cause, they have lost a sense of right and wrong even as they understand what they are doing would be considered wrong.

And nothing can stop them from continuing on in their foolishness.

Proverbs 27:22 “Though you grind a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with grain, you will not separate his foolishness from him.”

The scoffer

The scoffer is someone who doesn’t lack intelligence, and in fact, knows exactly what they are doing. But someone who deliberately tries to make trouble, and who just decides to deny and ignore wisdom. In fact, he mocks wisdom, he thinks wisdom is dumb, and that even though others think it is smart, he would rather just be a bad influence.

Proverbs 21:24 “The arrogant and proud person, named “Mocker,” acts with excessive arrogance.”

Proverbs 22:10 “Drive out a mocker, and conflict goes too; then quarreling and dishonor will cease.”

Proverbs 29:8 “Mockers inflame a city, but the wise turn away anger.”

Those who mock are just preparing themselves for destruction and for God’s judgment.

Proverbs 19:29 “Judgments are prepared for mockers, and beatings for the backs of fools.”

Proverbs 3:34 “He mocks those who mock but gives grace to the humble.”

The lesson

God gives grace to the humble

1 Peter 5:5-9 “In the same way, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. All of you clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your cares on him, because he cares about you. Be sober-minded, be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. Resist him, firm in the faith, knowing that the same kind of sufferings are being experienced by your fellow believers throughout the world.”

Behind the foolish and the scoffer is a desire to prove yourself, to show how great you are, to think of yourself as more than you need to be. Notice the call to resist the devil, his first scheme in the Garden was to make Adam and Eve think that they didn’t need God, that they could be just as wise as Him on their own. But that is exactly what it is, a scheme, a lie that tells us that we are strong all on our own, that we have all the answers, that we can take on our own problems. But Peter tells us to cast our cares upon God, because He is strong, and He is wise, and God is forgiving. He wants to take our burdens. It can be hard when you go through difficult things, when you feel inadequate, when you feel like you have something to prove. But we have nothing to prove to anyone, all we have to do is cast our cares onto God and He will take care of the rest.

The Sluggard

The sluggard is one who is just purely lazy and one with excuse after excuse as to why he can’t get things done. There are a few defining traits of the sluggard.

Proverbs 26:13–16 CSB

The slacker says, “There’s a lion in the road— a lion in the public square!” A door turns on its hinges, and a slacker, on his bed. The slacker buries his hand in the bowl; he is too weary to bring it to his mouth! In his own eyes, a slacker is wiser than seven who can answer sensibly.

His character

Won’t begin things

Proverbs 6:9-10 “How long will you stay in bed, you slacker? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the arms to rest,”

Even to get out of bed is a burden to them. The sluggard doesn’t know what they are doing, he has no plans. He just wants “a little more sleep”, “a little more fun”, “a little more food”. He just keeps making excuses until all of his time is spent up.

Won’t finish things

Even though he can begin a task he can’t finish what he started.

Proverbs 12:27 “A lazy hunter doesn’t roast his game, but to a diligent person, his wealth is precious.”

Proverbs 19:24 “The slacker buries his hand in the bowl; he doesn’t even bring it back to his mouth!”

Even though he has many things to do, he just sits and does nothing.

Won’t face things

This laziness turns into ignoring the consequences of his laziness, of making excuses for why he hasn’t acted.

Proverbs 22:13 “The slacker says, “There’s a lion outside! I’ll be killed in the public square!””

Proverbs 20:4 “The slacker does not plow during planting season; at harvest time he looks, and there is nothing.” (the reason he doesn’t plow is because it is cold.

-Notice how ridiculous this excuse is.

Restless, helpless, useless

Restless

Proverbs 13:4 “The slacker craves, yet has nothing, but the diligent is fully satisfied.”

Proverbs 21:25-26 “A slacker’s craving will kill him because his hands refuse to work. He is filled with craving all day long, but the righteous give and don’t hold back.”

The restless wishes they could have everything they want but they aren’t willing to work for it. Even though he wants to work hard he can’t escape his own laziness. Always saying “I have to do this” and “I don’t have time for this” while never really getting anything done. He exhausts himself by his laziness. He isn’t satisfied by his work,

Helpless

Proverbs 15:19 “A slacker’s way is like a thorny hedge, but the path of the upright is a highway.”

The slacker is dishonest, they make promises but in the end they don’t follow through. You give them chances but they can’t get out of their own way.

Useless

Proverbs 18:9 “The one who is lazy in his work is brother to a vandal.”

Proverbs 10:26 “Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so the slacker is to the one who sends him on an errand.”

They waste people’s time, money, and energy. Everything he does just leaves a bigger mess, he can’t solve any problems. They become an irritation to those close to them. Just causing greater and greater problems.

What is his lesson?

Learn from others

He looks at the ant and the one who is diligent during harvest as examples of the benefits of hard work.

Proverbs 6:6-8 “Go to the ant, you slacker! Observe its ways and become wise. Without leader, administrator, or ruler, it prepares its provisions in summer; it gathers its food during harvest.”

Proverbs 10:5 “The son who gathers during summer is prudent; the son who sleeps during harvest is disgraceful.”

If the son is able to be there when his father needs him, if when he is put to the test, even when he is weak, he completes the task then he can grow out of his laziness. Or he can show himself to be useless.

From his own experiences (far less desirable)

When it is too late he sees that he is in poverty.

Proverbs 6:11 “and your poverty will come like a robber, your need, like a bandit.”

By the time he is there the only job he can get is the hard labor job, the one where he brings himself more pain and less pay.

Proverbs 12:24 “The diligent hand will rule, but laziness will lead to forced labor.”

Proverbs 24:30-32 “I went by the field of a slacker and by the vineyard of one lacking sense. Thistles had come up everywhere, weeds covered the ground, and the stone wall was ruined. I saw, and took it to heart; I looked, and received instruction:”

Notice at the end that the wise man sees the sluggard, he sees the pain he is in and he learns from it. He takes this example and he says “I don’t want to be like him, I don’t want to be in the situation that he is in.

Colossians 3:22-25 “Slaves, obey your human masters in everything. Don’t work only while being watched, as people-pleasers, but work wholeheartedly, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people, knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord. You serve the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for whatever wrong he has done, and there is no favoritism.”

So what is our motivation? Our encouragement? If your heart is to serve the Lord, to do what is right, to care for your family, and to improve your community. Well, then, it won’t be that heart to find motivation. But if your desire is to serve yourself, to do what is easy, to put in the minimal effort. Then that is what you will get out of life. But that is why it is important to learn wisdom from others, to receive instruction on how to work, to seek to do the right thing rather than the wrong thing.

I want to be clear, this lesson isn’t “you are all fools”. But it is meant to be reflective, “are you acting like a fool? Are you acting like the sluggard? Are you willing to take advice? Are you able to be silent when it is necessary?” And if the answer to those is no, then are you willing to change? Are you willing to say “I don’t want to be this type of person, I don’t want to be looked at in this way.” Because the fool is only the person who isn’t willing to change, who isn’t willing to listen, who acts the wrong way even when they know it is a bad decision.

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