Sermon Central
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Who Is A Fool?
Contributed by Wilson Oshorakpor on Apr 20, 2023 (message contributor)
Summary: Many people including believers assume they are wise until they read the word of God and discover those described as fools by God. Foolishness and wisdom are not far from man, but we mostly do foolish things because the fallen nature of man. Are you a fool by God's standard?
TEXT: Ecclesiastes 7:9
“Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.”
WHO IS A FOOL?
The King James Bible dictionary defines a fool as:
1. One who is destitute of reason, or the common powers of understanding, an idiot.
2. In scripture, fool is often used for a wicked or depraved person one who acts contrary to sound wisdom in his moral deportment, one who follows his own inclinations, who prefers trifling and temporary pleasures to the service of God and eternal happiness.
3. A weak christian, a godly person who has much remaining sin and unbelief.
“Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him” (Proverb 22:15). A child’s heart is filled with foolishness. Adults shake their heads when they see children behaving foolishly; but smile because they remember their own foolish escapades in time past. When an adult behaves like a fool, it is nothing to smile about. Some people grow up physically but still behave like children emotionally, spiritually or mentally. Let’s see people the Bible describes as fools:
1. People who commits adultery/ fornication are described as fools because they destroy themselves and ther familes (Prov 6:32).
2. People who delight in slandering others are fools (Prov 10:19).
3. People who see wrong doing as fun are described as fools (Prov 10:23).
4. Anyone who despises the godly discipline of his parents is a fool (Prov 15:5).
5. Anyone who refuse to learn and despise knowledge is a fool (Prov 1:22).
6. Any woman who destroys her own home with her own hands is a fool (Prov 14:1).
7. People who are always hasty and rash, who allow anger to sleep in their hearts with no room for forgiveness are fools (Eccl 7:9)
8. People who say in their heart that there is no GOD are fools (Psalms 14:1)
9. One who makes his own god with his hands and worship before the idols he manufactures (Isa 44:10,20).
10. A person who knows that the path he is taking leads to destruction but still follows that wrong path (Eccl 10:2).
11. One who lives to acquire worldly riches but have no relationship with God (Luke 12:21)
12. People who claim to know God but refuse to worship and give Him thanks, but turn their hearts to vain thoughts, imaginations and idolatry (Romans 1:21).
Are you a fool according to God's word?
EXAMPLES IN THE BIBLE.
“I know Nabal is a wicked and ill-tempered man; please don’t pay any attention to him. He is a fool, just as his name suggests. But I never even saw the young men you sent.” In contrast to his wife, Nabal acted foolishly and would have brought death to his entire family but for the wisdom of his wife, Abigail.
“And Aaron said unto Moses, Alas, my lord, I beseech thee, lay not the sin upon us, wherein we have done foolishly, and wherein we have sinned.” Aaron and Miriam spoke against Moses, the servant of God. They foolishly challenged his leadership and God struck Marian with leprosy.
“But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’” The rich man was blessed by God but his thoughts were wholly on worldly pleasures. He had no relationship with God and was proud and ungrateful. His foolishness cost him his life.
FEAR GOD, BE WISE.
Foolishness is not only bound in the heart of young people, but also in the unregenerated heart of adults. Titus 3:3-6 tells us: "Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled and became slaves to many lusts and pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy, and we hated each other. But—When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love,
he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior.”
The fear of God, the Bible says, is the beginning of wisdom. To drive away foolishness from our hearts, we must fear God and serve him. The rod of correction may drive foolishness from the heart of children, but the sword of the spirit (God's word) is needed to drive foolishness from the heart of the unregenerate. Jesus is the power and wisdom of God (1 Cor 1:24), therefore when we accept him as saviour; he becomes our source of wisdom (1 Cor 1:30). He gives us wisdom when we ask from him (James 1:5).
DON'T BE A FOOL.
