Playing the Fool!
(1 Samuel 26:21)
We see here in this passage an admission of Saul the King, to David, that he was foolish in all of his attempts to take David’s life. This was the second time that (it appeared) Saul was delivered into David’s hands…The first was in a cave in the wilderness of En-gedi (just north of Jericho & near the western shore of the Dead Sea). Saul was stricken with the fact that God was surely on the side of David, so his conclusion was that it would be futile to go after him any longer. Saul came to an abrupt confrontation that all of his hatred, all of his anger, all of his murderous fantasies & all of his jealousies were for naught…he played the fool!
When I examine & compare Saul’s foolish ways and Saul’s foolish decisions in life, I cannot help but see the comparison to many today. If you live this life of yours (which is extremely volatile & uncertain) like you are going to live this life forever, you are playing the fool! If you are duped into thinking that there must be another way to heaven (even amidst the knowledge of Jesus’ words that He is the only "Way"), then, you are playing the fool! If you come and go, service after service, time after time, all the while God extends His saving grace unto you, and you keep resisting His offer of salvation, then, you are playing the fool! If you are a young person, and you are deceived into thinking you have all of your life to get right with the Lord…Or, you think you want to have your fun now…Or, you, too, think that there must be another avenue to God & heaven; something that doesn’t require your all-in-all…then, you, too are playing the fool!
There are many roles that are played out in the economy of God; there are various personalities that incorporate the kingdom of our Lord. But, no matter how different we may be, there is one thing that we must all have universal in our belief system, and in our indoctrination of others…There is only ONE WAY to heaven! And, if you are playing the fool, or you continue to play the fool in spite of all the evident truth, then you are not truly a part of this Way…Simply, you are NOT on your way to heaven!
*But, I want to reassure you…All that can change today, if you will do something about it!
(So, let’s notice examples of those whom played the fool…)
I. Some Outstanding Bible Characters Who Played the Fool.
a) OT - Adam…Cain…Esau…Samson…David & Saul!
b) NT - Judas…Demas (fellow-laborer w/Paul that fell in love with the world & left the work of God)…Ananias & Sapphira!
II. Some Outstanding Attributes of Church Members Today Who are Playing the Fool.
a) Those who are drifting along through life in a state of uncertainty after first coming to know the Lord.
1) In not being soundly converted & going on to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
b) Those who try to make it through on half-conditions & partial obedience.
c) Those who make an experience with Jesus Christ secondary.
1) Work & Business first! If any time is left, they give that unto the Lord.
2) They bend their "religion" to suit circumstances and surroundings and friends.
d) Those who are satisfied with a dry form and an empty profession, and have not vital or real experience with the Lord.
e) Those who play with sin and lower the bars:
1) Like Samson - (Judges 16:20) "And she said, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" So he awoke from his sleep, and said, "I will go out as before, at other times, and shake myself free!" But he did not know that the LORD had departed from him."
2) Like David - (2 Sam. 12:7) "…Nathan said to David, "You are the man…!" David was so blinded by his selfish, sinful condition that Nathan had to point out his sin to him.
f) Those who preach one thing and practice another.
1) Profess a high standard of love, but have a spirit of surmising the worst, critical & backbite.
2) Preach unity, but practice division.
3) Condemn others what you are guilty of yourself.
(Finally…)
III. Sinners Who are Playing the Fool.
a) Young folk who early on do not completely yield their lives to the Lord.
b) Those who procrastinate until death.
c) Those who have not truly accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior!
(John 14:5 & 6) "Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?" Jesus said to him, ’I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’"
ARE YOU PLAYING THE FOOL? ARE YOU REALLY RIGHT WITH THE LORD? YOU CAN BE!
