Preached on 8.24.08 by Dustin Neeley
Cautions for this Message:
- Hearing this message as if it is for someone else.
- Feeling self-righteous about how ‘un-foolish’ we perceive ourselves to be.
- Feeling overwhelmed and defeated by our foolishness.
Reading These Proverbs in Light of Jesus and the Gospel:
- Jesus is the ultimate embodiment of wisdom.
- Jesus died for our foolishness.
- Because of what Jesus has done we have both the pattern and Power we need to avoid foolishness and walk in wisdom.
What is a Fool?
Definition: Someone who is out of touch with the way God intended the world to work.
3 Different Kinds (+) of Fools in Proverbs: simple, mocker, vindictive
BEING A FOOL is the DANGER the Book of Proverbs wants us to avoid.
What Does a Fool Do?
- Despise wisdom and instruction, hate knowledge (1:7, 22)
- Trusts in his own mind (28:26)
- Takes no pleasure in understanding, instead airs his own opinion (18:2)
- Their lips do not spread wisdom (15:7)
- Utter slander (10:18)
- Their mouths pour out, feed on folly (15:2, 14)
- Their hearts proclaim folly and flaunt it (12:23, 13:16)
- Gives full vent to his spirit (29:11)
- Lips walk into a fight and their mouth invites a beating (18:6)
- Do wrong as if it were a joke (10:23)
- Turning away from evil is an abomination to them (13:19)
- Mock at the guilt offering (14:9)* (mock the things of God)
- Is reckless and careless (14:16)
- Quarreling (20:3)
- Only rages and laughs in an argument (29:9)
- Despises his father’s instruction (15:5)
- Despises his own mother (15:20)
- Their eyes are on the ends of the earth (17:24)
- Devours precious treasure and oil (21:20)* (waste their resources)
Where are the fingerprints of foolishness in my life? Am I ready to listen and make the necessary adjustments? Are there people speaking into my life that can help me in these areas? Am I walking in a healthy balance of depending upon Jesus to change me in these areas or simply ‘trying hard’ on my own?
What Are the Consequences of Being a Fool?
- Get disgrace (3:35)
- Their vexation is known at once (12:16)
- Will be servant to the wise of heart (11:29)
- They have no words of knowledge (14:7)
- Their folly is deceiving, brings folly (14:8, 24, 16:22)
- The complacency of fools destroys them (1:32)
- Babbling fool will com to ruin (10:8, 10:14)
- Condemnation and beatings (19:29)
- From their mouths comes a rod for their backs (14:3)
- Die for a lack of sense (10:21)
- Their companions will suffer harm (13:20)
- Hiring them is like an archer that wounds everyone (26:10)
- Their fathers have no joy, a ruin to him (17:21, 19:13)
- Sorrow to his mother (10:1)
- A grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him (17:25)
How Do We Walk in It?
- Recognize the ‘fingerprints of foolishness’ in our lives.
- Confess. Repent. Thank God Jesus died for these areas.
- Take a long, hard look at the consequences of being a fool.
- Realize that God is reaching out to us no matter where we are. Respond!
- Prov. 1:22-37, 9:1-6, Jas. 1:5
- Follow the pattern of wisdom in the power of Jesus.
- Do/don’t do what needs to be done in the power of Christ.
- God didn’t just give us principles but a Person. Look to Jesus!
- Walk with the wise so that you might grow wise (13:20).
- Be aware of/avoid the company of fools.
- Ask “What is the WISE CHOICE in this situation?”
Are these actions a habit in our lives? If not, what needs to change?
Homework:
- Meditate on the key passages of Prov. 2, 8 in the book. Journal your thoughts.
- Parents! Look for ways to teach your children both the practices and benefits avoiding fools and foolishness in their own lives.
- Read a chapter of Proverbs a day (31 chapters). Soak in it!
- Pray for wisdom like Solomon did. God will answer this prayer!
- Continue asking “Where do I most need wisdom in my life?” Ask God. Ask others.
- Begin asking “What is the WISE choice in this situation?”
Works Consulted : Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Life Application Bible, MacArthur Study Bible, Messages by Steve Hart, Tim Keller, Darrin Patrick, Mark Driscoll, Introduction to the Old Testament, Making Life Work by Bil Hybels, Fool Proofing Your Life by Jan Silvanous
