Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley

Like snow in summer or rain in harvest,
    honor is not fitting for a fool.
Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow,
    an undeserved curse does not come to rest.
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
    and a rod for the backs of fools!
Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
    or you yourself will be just like him.
Answer a fool according to his folly,
    or he will be wise in his own eyes.
Sending a message by the hands of a fool
    is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison.
Like the useless legs of one who is lame
    is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
Like tying a stone in a sling
    is the giving of honor to a fool.
Like a thornbush in a drunkard’s hand
    is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
Like an archer who wounds at random
    is one who hires a fool or any passer-by.
As a dog returns to its vomit,
    so fools repeat their folly.
Do you see a person wise in their own eyes?
    There is more hope for a fool than for them.

• Proverbs 26:1-12

Proverbs 26:4, 5 ”Taken together, these verses teach the appropriate way to answer a fool (e.g., an unbeliever who rejects truth). He should not be answered with agreement to his own ideas and presuppositions, or he will think he is right (v. 4), but rather he should be rebuked on the basis of his folly and shown the truth so he sees how foolish he is (v. 5). ”

• John MacArthur, John MacArthur Commentary (quoted Scripture without bold/italics)

The Message

These first twelve verses of Proverbs 26 all pertain to the fool.  The word “fool” is mentioned in all but verse 2.  As Rev. MacArthur states, remember that a fool is the person who does not believe and rejects the truth.  Psalms 14 and 53 start with a fool saying that there is no God.  This is by biblical definition, regardless of how the secular world uses the word “fool.”  Why does Jesus assign someone calling someone else a fool as being equal to murder?  It would be the same as telling them to go to Hell.  We are wishing their demise and their ultimate punishment in saying such a thing.

But there are two people acting within these verses: the fool and the person dealing with the fool.

Verse 1 is similar to Proverbs 26:4, 5 which Rev. MacArthur covers above.  If we honor a fool, he will immediately assign that honor to his ideas and ways.

As an example, many who adhere to the secular progressive ideology are not satisfied with you having a “live and let live” attitude toward them.  You must celebrate their lifestyle and praise them.  As Proverbs 26:5 states, they want someone to acknowledge them as being wise in their own eyes.

But we do not have to look far from home in a Christian family.  I have seen so many adults who long ago had a religious experience where they felt close to God.  But their entire life after that point has no evidence of any fruits of the spirit.  They have convinced themselves that they are saved.  The church rubber stamped their “confession of faith” by making them church members, and even though they aren’t really sure what truth is, they cannot be dissuaded that their “religious moment” was not the moment of salvation.  Maybe it was and they have tons of baggage that needs to be dealt with, but no fruits of the spirit?  Not ever?  Yet, all they can point a finger toward is their church membership.

And because the fool puffs himself up, his idea that he never did anything wrong leads to the dog returning to its vomit.  Albert Einstein never said that insanity was continuing to do the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.  The quote is actually used in a novel by Rita Mae Brown.  But since the fool thinks he is never wrong, he or she will often do the same thing again, thinking the result will be different.

But let’s not consign the fool to Hell.  If we are consistent in not condoning their ideas, attitudes, or behavior and we continue to pray, God might produce another miracle by converting even the most resolute of fools.

And now let us sing.

The following song is God’s Own Fool.  This is sung by Michael Card.  As I hinted above, the secular world might just have a different view of being a fool.  Many think it is the opposite of the biblical definition.  The composer calls Jesus God’s Own Fool, and he invites us to “come and be a fool as well.”  And sticking with that upside down thinking, if loving Jesus is foolish, I do not want the world’s definition of wise.

Closing Prayer

Dear Lord,
We need Your wisdom.  Help us to value wisdom.  Guide us in our paths.  Help us to steer clear of the fools that we meet.  We mustn’t condone their ideas or behavior, and we cannot trust them.  But help us show Your love for them.  And help us to pray for them, that they might see their own folly.  In thy Name we pray.
Amen

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.