FOOL
A FOOL’S WAY
Dr. Gale A. Ragan-Reid
(February 11, 2020)
““But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.” (Matthew 5: 22, King James Version [KJV]).
Greetings In The Holy Name Of Jesus Yahshuah,
My brothers and sisters, to speak about a FOOL is as hard on the soul as to talk about Satan having his way, with Job. I do not think there is anyone who wants to suffer. Many of us are called to the public ministry of Christ Jesus, however, there are those of us who are not called but who see the public ministry of Christ Jesus as a lucrative vocation, bearing all yet providing all; worth the risk. I come to you today, to speak of the status of a person, as a Fool, sometimes, also the behavior of a person, a Fool yet for the children of God’s kingdom who deeply contemplate this thought, it is the argument, Are you a fool or a man or woman of faith? This enterprise of God is scary business because if you are not afraid then you are a fool, I must say this to you. “The fear of the LORD [is] the beginning of knowledge: [but] fools despise wisdom and instruction.”[Proverbs 1: 7, KJV]. With that said, “A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.”[Proverbs 18: 2, KJV].
Most importantly, we continue in the 18th chapter of Proverbs to consider, verse 5, “It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment.” Yet, a fool in his folly in harsh judgment of the righteous do seek self-righteous appointment to task, not in the will of God but in the ambition of a fool. I ask you, right here and now, is this faith? More importantly, we look to the behavioral signs of how we as children of God, in the family of the kingdom of God react to a fool in his folly. Let us consider Proverbs 26: 3-12, KJV:
“A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back. Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit. He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage.
The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools. As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool. As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouths of fools.
The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.
As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.
Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.” ... Proverbs 29: 11, KJV, warns us that, “A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise [man] keepeth it in till afterwards” and Proverbs 29: 9, KJV, continually warns us, “[If] a wise man contendeth with a foolish man, whether he rage or laugh, [there is] no rest.”
Moreover, hopefully you did not overlook the Proverbs of King Solomon, the son of King David and Bathsheba, so stated previously that should have made you clearly think more about a fool and God, let us reiterate for you, so you clearly think of your high risk in dealings with a fool: “The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.” How harsh is your judgment of yourself when you think that you in all your knowledge let a fool bring you down in a most disrespectful foolhardy judgment? Before you jump up to jump down under the influence of a fool, also consider, let us clearly think, why does God take care of babies and fools because they are weak to the shame of the strong and wise. Is it because as a child of God we are all fools? [1 Corinthians 4: 10 King James Version (KJV), “We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.”]. Let us consider, also, the prophet Jeremiah 4: 22, KJV: “For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.” Henceforth, we obviously arrive at the reality of a fool’s disbelief in God, for in Psalms 14: 1-7, we find we, the children of God run amuck in our own foolish folly:
“The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the Lord.
There were they in great fear: for God is in the generation of the righteous. Ye have shamed the counsel of the poor, because the Lord is his refuge. Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! when the Lord bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.”...Proverbs 15: 7, KJV, “The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish [doeth] not so.”
Interestingly enough, the fear of the LORD our GOD draws us nearer to GOD but the fool runs and hides in his own conceit [Proverbs 26: 4, KJV, “Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.”] Let us consider the foolish thoughts of man, I do not fear the instructions of God for I am God. Understandably we consider Matthew 21: 28-30, KJV, What think you? “A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work today in my vineyard. He answered and said I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said I go, sir: and he went not. Which of the two did the will of his father? They say unto Him, the first. Jesus say unto them, Verily I say unto you, that the publicans and the harlots go into the Kingdom of God before you.”
Speak, LORD, speak to me. In Proverbs 14: 1-35, KJV, King Solomon speaks:
“The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down. Whoever fears the Lord walks uprightly, but those who despise him are devious in their ways.
A fool’s mouth lashes out with pride,
but the lips of the wise protect them. Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but from the strength of an ox come abundant harvests. An honest witness does not deceive, but a false witness pours out lies.
The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.
Stay away from a fool, for you will not find knowledge on their lips. The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception. Fools mock at making amends for sin, but goodwill is found among the upright. Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can share its joy.
The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish. There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death. Even in laughter the heart may ache, and rejoicing may end in grief. The faithless will be fully repaid for their ways, and the good rewarded for theirs. The simple believe anything,
but the prudent give thought to their steps.
The wise fear the Lord and shun evil, but a fool is hotheaded and yet feels secure. A quick-tempered person does foolish things, and the one who devises evil schemes is hated. The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge. Evildoers will bow down in the presence of the good, and the wicked at the gates of the righteous. The poor are shunned even by their neighbors,
but the rich have many friends.
It is a sin to despise one’s neighbor, but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy. Do not those who plot evil go astray?
But those who plan what is good find[a] love and faithfulness. All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty. The wealth of the wise is their crown,
but the folly of fools yields folly. A truthful witness saves lives, but a false witness is deceitful.
Whoever fears the Lord has a secure fortress, and for their children it will be a refuge. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,
turning a person from the snares of death. A large population is a king’s glory, but without subjects a prince is ruined. Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly. A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.
Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker,
but whoever is kind to the needy honors God. When calamity comes, the wicked are brought down, but even in death the righteous seek refuge in God. Wisdom reposes in the heart of the discerning and even among fools she lets herself be known.[b] Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people. A king delights in a wise servant, but a shameful servant arouses his fury.”
Ultimately, those verses so stated, lead us to the end of our foolhardy thoughts, for as a man thinks so is he [Proverbs 23: 7, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.”]. Accordingly, Matthew (7: 26, KJV) states, “And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:” In life, the children of God build a lot of sand castles. I am not talking about the sand castles that adorn our beaches, from shore to shore. Is this faith? Most of what man thinks is about laying up his treasures and most of what he speaks is directly related to those treasures, for as a man thinks so is he. In modern times, a man once told me, I am precious, too. [Proverbs 10: 14, KJV, Wise [men] lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish [is] near destruction.” ...Proverbs 15: 7, KJV, “The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish [doeth] not so.” ...Proverbs 18: 7, KJV, “A fool's mouth [is] his destruction, and his lips [are] the snare of his soul.”].
In closing, “Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.” (Ecclesiastes 7: 9, KJV). Yet, a fool will get by for the blessings of God are not denied him or her but you might suffer, exceedingly so, grave injustices at the hands of a fool for he pretends those hands of his near the fire of hell are not so. Is this faith? “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11: 1, KJV). Is there such a thing as a fool’s faith?
In Matthew 23: 17-33, KJV, we further consider the fool:
“Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?
And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty. Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?
Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon.
And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein. And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.
Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.
Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers. Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?”
Furthermore, in Matthew 6: 19-21, KJV, we are guided to:
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Herein, we must consider that Jesus does not trust man on earth and highly thinks of God and heaven, for righteousness sake.[Proverbs 28: 26, KJV, “He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.”]. Therefore, let us think about Christ Jesus —- the love of God, for our salvation, as the substance of our faith. Christ be with you. God be with you.
Amen.
