Characteristics Of A Fool

SCRIPTURE: Proverbs 27:22 "Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him."

BRAY: To pound or beat or grind small

FOOL: one who is destitute of reason, or the common powers of understanding.

MORTAR: A vessel of wood or metal in the form of an inverted bell.

Pestle: An instrument for pounding or breaking substances in a mortar.

FOOLISHNESS: foolish practice, want of wisdom or good judgement.

PROPOSITION: To use this text and others to show some characteristics of a fool and also to show that fools can become wise if they will turn from their sin and come to Christ who is the only Saviour of mankind.

1.) What are some of the characteristics of a fool, why does the scripture say"Yet will not his foolishness depart from him"

A. Stubornness to the point of taking great confidence in their sin.

Proverbs 14:16 " A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident."

1 Samuel 15:23 "For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry..."

B. Having an unteachable spirit, he will not learn that sin has its consequences.

Proverbs 26:11 "As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly."

C. A fool puts no confidence in God or in Gods Word, he thinks he has it all figured out because he trusts in his own heart. Proverbs 28:26 "He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered."

Proverbs 1:7 "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction."

Romans 1:22 "Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools"

D. A fool is a liar and a slanderer, this is the way he attempts to elevate himself.

Proverbs 10:18 "He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool."

Proverbs 14:8 "...the folly of fools is deceit."

E. Fools make a comedy and a sport out of their sin, by doing this they attempt to silence their conscience, justify their perversions, and condemn God.

Proverbs 10:23 "It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom."

Proverbs 14:9 "Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour."

F. Fools expose themselves by opening their mouth, Jesus said "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks"

Proverbs 18:6-7 "A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes. A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul."

G. Fools make the lives of those around them more burdensome especially family members.

Proverbs 17:25 "A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him."

Abigail in the old testament married a foolish man and was troubled by him, when speaking to David she said this about her husband. 1 Samuel 25:25 "Let not my lord, I pray thee, regard this man of Belial, even Nabal: for as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him..."

H. Fools live in a state of death both in this world and in the world to come.

Proverbs 10:21 "The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom."

1 Timothy 5:6 "But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth."

Revelation 20:15 "And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."

I. Fools have only one promotion to look forward to, and that promotion is shame, they will receive shame in this world, and in the world to come.

Proverbs 3:35 "The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools."

Daniel 12:2 "And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt."

J. Fools do not control their anger, on the contrary their anger controls them. Ecclesiastes 7:9 "Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools."

K. Fools say so little with so many words, in contrast the scripture says so much in so few words.

Ecclesiastes 5:3 "...a fool's voice is known by multitude of words."

2.) Is there any hope for fools? Can they have wisdom and forgiveness?

A. Yes, but they must humble themselves repenting of their wicked foolishness and turn to Christ, if they "die in their sin" it is to late!

2 Timothy 3:15 "And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus."

Conclusion: To be a fool is a miserable existence, but to die a fool is a miserable eternity! Be wise come to Christ while you still can!