The book of Proverbs is filled with warnings and counsel about fools. And oh, how easy it is to be one! Nobody wants to be taken for a fool, but is it possible to be one without knowing it? Answer that after reading.
Solomon described the mind of the BIG FOOL like this: “Someone who doesn’t believe there is a God, who scorns knowledge and truth, and who does not fear God or His commandments.” Praise the Lord, you say, that’s not me. But wait, Solomon goes on to describe the little fool’s attitudes and actions and suddenly fools appear all over the place, even beside me on the church bench. O no! He’s even describing ME.
Are you a fool? Here’s what the book of Proverbs says, “A fool is easily angered, speaks quickly and irrationally, says things that shouldn’t be said, does not learn from his mistakes, corrupts his own heart, thinks he is right when he is dead wrong, frets against the Lord, slanders his neighbor, acts rashly, goes against good counsel, loves to hear himself speak, will not heed correction, hides his hatred with lying lips, thinks a lot of himself, commits adultery, mocks sin and restitution, acts deceitfully, will not listen to his father’s instruction, despises his mother, seeks the company of other fools, speaks arrogantly, does not accept reproof, does what his own eyes think is right, lets his thoughts wander wherever they want to go, perverts his own ways, works mischievously and does evil deeds, is quick to quarrel and argue, spends money unwisely, rebels against authority, never learns, repeats his own folly, delights to expose the emptiness of his mind, is easily provoked, lifts himself up.”
Now that is a serious list. If you don’t want to be taken for a fool, taking a little self-exam might help. Actually, make that a big, life-long exam. The fact is that we all act foolish sometimes. And as the saying goes, if telling a lie makes you a liar, then acting foolish makes you a fool. So careful, there are a lot of fools walking around out there. There might even be one standing in your shoes at this moment. Watch out for him…Solomon said its better to meet a mother bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly.
But guess what…there is someone who is in even worse shape than the fool, who is in even more grave danger of utterly ruining his soul. Proverbs 26:12 says, Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? There is more hope of a fool than of him. Wow. That’s pretty crushing right there. It isn’t the fool who stands on the lowest rung on the ladder of integrity, but the person who is wise in his own eyes, who thinks more of himself than he ought.
A person who is wise in his own conceit is someone who follows the judgments and logic of his own mind. He is sure that they are correct above those of his fellow man. This is one of the basic, pervasive attitudes of the human race. From the college-educated professor down to the peasant herding sheep, everyone thinks that his judgment of what is right and wrong is best.
Pride! It was the first of all sins (Isaiah 14:12-14). Ponder this – the only real difference between a wise man and a fool is a little attitude called humbleness of mind (Col 3:12). The wise man is humble and meek; he knows his frailty, he knows that Truth is often too high for him (Is 55:9). Yet, a hundred stripes cannot teach a fool (Pro 17:10).
One tactic of the fool that is currently in vogue is the “non sequitur,” which is giving an answer or argument that doesn’t even address the issue of discussion. Atheists and Christians alike will resort to this type of argument to justify their errors. One of the most oft-used “non sequiturs” in Christianity is the idea that if I’m not “convicted” about something in the Bible – a particular commandment or principle – then it doesn’t apply to me.
“I don’t feel convicted to (fill in the blank).” Voila! I don’t have to do it.
Now, where did this idea come from, that New Testament rules are contingent upon my own convictions? Well, let me give you a hint. His name begins with a “D” and ends with “evil.” It’s a non sequitur argument.
The Bible stands alone and above every standard – and that includes your heart. Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? There is more hope of a fool than of him. Really, it doesn’t matter what you, or I, or anyone else says or believes. All that matters is what the Holy Spirit has said in the Word which is able to make thee wise unto salvation (2Tim 3:15).
The rules for Christ’s Kingdom in the Divine Scriptures have nothing to do with how you feel or believe. What arrogance and pride to think that I decide what is a ‘salvation issue’ and what isn’t. To disobey what God has said is a ‘salvation issue.’ Many apparently think they are going to heaven even though they don’t love Christ, for “He that loves Me, keeps My commandments” (John 14:21).
If the man that is wise in his own conceit stands in the room of lowest hope, who is the man that stands in highest hope? Isaiah 66:1-2 tells us, Thus saith the Lord, the heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool…but this man will I regard, even him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at My word.
Humility. The man who is not wise in own conceit. Now there walks a man that God will BLESS.