“Characteristics of a Fool”
Trials stand as the primary test to affirm the reality and stability of our trust in God.
James addresses genuine faith’s response to trials in verse 2-18.
I. Faith’s response to trials 1:2-18
Instruction #1 : Consider it all joy when encountering trials
Insight: Knowing that testing produces endurance.
Instruction #2: Continue enduring
Insight: knowing that endurance produces maturity and stability
Instruction #3: Confidently ask God for wisdom
Insights:
Knowing God gives without skimping or scolding to those confidently asking
Knowing God gives nothing to those doubting.
We need wisdom to face the various trials we encounter in a devil-driven world. We either live by the advice of this devil-directed and energized world or we live by God’s determined way of living for His children as revealed in the Bible.
Wisdom is the thought process which directs life’s choices and way of living. Satan suggests a belief system that produces a harvest of godless living. God proclaims a belief system that produces a harvest of right living. There is man’s way of thinking and doing things which God calls foolish. There is God’s way of thinking and doing things which man calls foolish.
I presented numerous verses that identified the ultimate source of wisdom.
‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’” Job 28:28
Right thinking and right living equals true wisdom.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever! Psalm 111:10
Satan tried to convince Eve that she could become wise apart from God. She could acquire wisdom from the fruit rather than the Root. God’s wisdom comes from God to those who seek Him. Only those renewed in the core of their being can discern God’s wisdom. In Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Christ became to us wisdom from God.
Today we stand in front of God’s mirror to try to detect any signs of foolishness. There are nearly 200 references to the fool or foolishness. From those verses I want to discover a profile of the fool. I don’t intend to label anyone a fool but hope we might avoid becoming one or acting like one by understanding the characteristics of a fool spelled out in the Scriptures. Scripture “outs” foolish behavior and foolish believing (thinking). Foolish behavior flows from foolish believing (thinking). Since the core of wisdom has to do with intimate connection to the God of wisdom, it seems logical to assume that the core of foolishness has to do with an ignorance of God and His ways. Since the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, the absence of the fear of the Lord is the lack of wisdom.
1. Foolish people fail to continually cultivate dynamic relationship with God.
The Fool ignores or rejects relationship with God.
Fear of the Lord and knowledge of the Holy One birth wisdom or the right kind of thinking that produces the right kind of living.
Paul described mankind’s descent into foolishness in Romans 1.
The first stage involved suppressing the clear evidence to God’s existence.
Suppress the Truth
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.
For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
The Second stage involved a rejection of God’s authority over them.
Reject the Truth
For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him,
Rejecting God distorted cognitive abilities.
but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools
The third stage involved trading the immortal God for the mortal beings.
Exchange the truth
and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
The focus became humanism where MAN became the measure of all things.
Casting off all divine moral code resulted in behavior without divine restraint. God allowed them to descend into destructive moral decay.
Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves. God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.
The fourth stage involved a refusal to acknowledge God at all.
Refuse the truth
They plummeted from honoring Him to willful refusal to even acknowledge Him.
Rejecting God altogether resulted in further relational and moral decay.
And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God (who they refused to acknowledge), insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless.
For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. Titus 3:3
The last stage involved a warm comradery among evil doers.
Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them. Romans 1:18-32
We can clearly trace every ill in past and present society to rejecting God and His word.
Israel rejected God and His ways.
“The Rock, his work is perfect, for all His ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is He. They have dealt corruptly with Him; they are no longer His children because they are blemished; they are a crooked and twisted generation. Do you thus repay the LORD, you foolish and senseless people? Is not He your father, who created you, who made you and established you? Deuteronomy 32:4-6
“But Jeshurun (upright one, Israel) grew fat, and kicked; you grew fat, stout, and sleek; then he forsook God who made him and scoffed at the Rock of his salvation. They stirred him to jealousy with strange gods; with abominations they provoked Him to anger. They sacrificed to demons that were no gods, to gods they had never known, to new gods that had come recently, whom your fathers had never dreaded. You were unmindful of the Rock that bore you, and you forgot the God who gave you birth. Deuteronomy 32:15-18
We live in a culture that does everything they can to deny God as Creator. Evolution has much more to do with morality than biology.
Rejecting God affects the thinking which adversely affects the living.
But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. James 3:14-16
The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none who does good. The LORD looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God.
Remember this, O LORD, how the enemy scoffs, and a foolish people reviles your name. Psalm 74:18
Arise, O God, defend your cause; remember how the foolish scoff at you all the day! Psalm 74:22
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1:2-7
The discerning sets his face toward wisdom, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth. Prov 17:24
“Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes, but see not, who have ears, but hear not. Do you not fear me? declares the LORD. Do you not tremble before Me? I placed the sand as the boundary for the sea, a perpetual barrier that it cannot pass; though the waves toss, they cannot prevail; though they roar, they cannot pass over it. But this people has a stubborn and rebellious heart; they have turned aside and gone away. They do not say in their hearts, ‘Let us fear the LORD our God, who gives the rain in its season, the autumn rain and the spring rain, and keeps for us the weeks appointed for the harvest.’ Your iniquities have turned these away, and your sins have kept good from you. Jeremiah 5:21-25
The fool speaks folly, and his heart is busy with iniquity, to practice ungodliness, to utter error concerning the LORD… Isaiah 32:5-8
Jesus clearly identified the foolish man by his refusal to hear and obey God.
"Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall." Matthew 7:26-27
This relates to our current study on how faith responds to life’s trials. Without God’s wisdom we crash and burn. With wisdom from God we can continually endure and develop spiritual maturity.
The wise man hears AND obeys the word of God.
Everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. Matt 7:24-25
The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple. Psalm 119:130
Proverbs instructs us to hang out with the wise and we will become wise. Cultivating a dynamic relationship with the Lord results in wisdom. The fool neglects his relationship with God
For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them; Proverbs 1:32
What has more influence on your thinking, earthly, natural or demonic sources or the word of God? Foolish people fail to continually cultivate dynamic relationship with God.
2. Foolish people have poor impulse control.
This applies to their speech and emotions.
The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever utters slander is a fool. Proverbs 10:18
By the mouth of a fool comes a rod for his back, but the lips of the wise will preserve them. Proverbs 14:3
Let a man meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs rather than a fool in his folly. Proverbs 17:12
A fool’s lips walk into a fight, and his mouth invites a beating. Proverbs 18:6
A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul. Proverbs 18:7
If a wise man has an argument with a fool, the fool only rages and laughs, and there is no quiet. Prov 29:9
A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back. Proverbs 29:11
It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling. Proverbs 20:3
The words of a wise man’s mouth win him favor, but the lips of a fool consume him. Ecclesiastes 10:12
Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. 2 Timothy 2:23
A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but to turn away from evil is an abomination to fools.
Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly. Proverbs 14:29
The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so the hearts of fools. Proverbs 15:7
Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the heart of fools. Ecclesiastes 7:9
The vexation of a fool is known at once, but the prudent ignores an insult. Proverbs 12:16
Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool. Pro 19:1
It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling. Proverbs 20:3
Whole sections expose the foolishness of becoming trapped by the sensuous woman.
Reject a factious man after a first and second warning, knowing that such a man is perverted and is sinning, being self-condemned. Titus 3:10-11
These all validate James evaluation of the one driven by selfish ambition and jealousy.
For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. James 3:16
3. Foolish people think they are right
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice. Proverbs 12:15
Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered. Proverbs 28:26
A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion. Proverbs 18:2
A fool multiplies words, though no man knows what is to be, and who can tell him what will be after him? Ecclesiastes 10:14
Man in his pomp will not remain; he is like the beasts that perish. This is the path of those who have foolish confidence; yet after them people approve of their boasts. Selah Psalm 49:12-13
If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame. Proverbs 18:13
Satan enticed Adam and Eve to divorce themselves from God.
In the period of the Judges every man did that which was right in their own eyes.
Moses prescribed a way to remember God’s ways.
And it shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the LORD, to do them, not to follow after your own heart and your own eyes, which you are inclined to whore after. Numbers 15:39
If you have been foolish, exalting yourself, or if you have been devising evil, put your hand on your mouth. Proverbs 30:32
Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. 1 Cor 3:18
Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. Prov 3:7-8
All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the spirit. Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established. Proverbs 16:2-3
There are those who are clean in their own eyes but are not washed of their filth. Proverbs 30:12
Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their own sight! Isaiah 5:21
4. Foolish people naively don’t even try to avoid evil.
A wise man’s heart inclines him to the right, but a fool’s heart to the left. Ecclesiastes 10:2
The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps. Proverbs 14:15
One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless. Proverbs 14:16
The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it. Proverbs 22:3
“For my people are foolish; they know me not; they are stupid children; they have no understanding. They are ‘wise’—in doing evil! But how to do good they know not.” Jeremiah 4:22
The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly. Proverbs 15:14
Folly is a joy to him who lacks sense, but a man of understanding walks straight ahead. Proverbs 15:21
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth. Eccl 7:4
Doing wrong is like a joke to a fool, but wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding. Proverbs 10:23
5. Foolish people destroy essential relationships.
Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man’s dwelling, but a foolish man devours it. Proverbs 21:20
Like an archer who wounds everyone is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard. Proverbs 26:10
Dead flies make the perfumer’s ointment give off a stench; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor. Ecclesiastes 10:1
Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm. Proverbs 13:19-20
The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down. Proverbs 14:1
A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish man despises his mother. Proverbs 15:20
A foolish son is a grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him. Proverbs 17:25
He who sires a fool gets himself sorrow, and the father of a fool has no joy. Proverbs 17:21
6. Foolish people don’t change easily.
Crush a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain, yet his folly will not depart from him. Prov 27:22
Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the good sense of your words. Proverbs 23:9
Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly. Proverbs 26:11
A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding than a hundred blows into a fool. Proverbs 17:10
7. Foolish people are lazy
The fool folds his hands and eats his own flesh. Ecclesiastes 4:5
The fool has no discipline or drive.
Prov 6:6 instructs us to observe the ant’s industriousness and be wise rather than a lazy fool.
For a dream comes with much business, and a fool’s voice with many words. Ecclesiastes 5:3
For a man’s ways are before the eyes of the LORD, and he ponders all his paths. The iniquities of the wicked ensnare him, and he is held fast in the cords of his sin. He dies for lack of discipline, and because of his great folly he is led astray. Proverbs 5:21-23
The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer sensibly. Proverbs 26:16
8. Foolish people blame God for their troubles.
When a man’s folly brings his way to ruin, his heart rages against the LORD. Proverbs 19:3
9. Foolishness begins in childhood
Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him. Proverbs 22:15
Teach that we are responsible to walk according to God’s standard.
Teach that there are consequences for not walking according to God’s standard.
10. Foolish people don’t deserve honor
Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool. Proverbs 26:1
Like one who binds the stone in the sling is one who gives honor to a fool. Proverbs 26:8
11. Foolish people live for themselves in the present.
Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:13-21
Temporal focus seeking life from things.
Self-centered focus on leisure.
Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy. Ezekiel 16:49
Failure to focus on God.
12. Foolish people think they can do it on their own.
O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”? Gal 3:1-6
At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him, “Because you relied on the king of Syria, and did not rely on the LORD your God, the army of the king of Syria has escaped you.
"For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His. You (King Asa) have acted foolishly in this. Indeed, from now on you will surely have wars." 2 Chronicles 16:7, 9
13. Foolish people ignore what’s on the inside.
And the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You fools! Did not he who made the outside make the inside also? Luke 11:39-40
14. Foolish people get sidetracked by human speculation rather than truth.
Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. 2 Timothy 2:23
But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. Titus 3:9
If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh. Colossians 2:20-23
God calls us to live according to wisdom; live according to His ways.
Be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and understanding.
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but (be wise) understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery,
Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise. Proverbs 20:1
but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. Ephesians 5:1-21
Suggestion: Psalms – the wonder of God and Proverbs – the wisdom of God
