Proverbs/Parables Series #1
Wise and Other-Wise
by: K. Edward Skidmore
Proverbs 1-2
DRAMA: Foundation of Sand by Susan & Ed Skidmore
Would you buy a Jiffy Build Home? That’s the kind of question Jesus was asking in the Parable of the foolish builder.
SCRIPTURE READING: Matthew 7:24-27
INTRODUCTION:
Somehow this reminds me of the first home I bought. The front porch soon rotted off, and one of the bedrooms was leaning to the right. The detached garage WAS literally built on sand – with no foundation. (By the way, it’s not standing any more.)
Of course I wised up. Later I bought a home in a flood plane… but that’s another story. The point is that most of us, if we’ve lived very long, have made a few stupid decisions. I’ve heard a saying that the only difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits.
All of us are capable of making foolish decisions. But what we want to avoid is BECOMING fools. The book of Proverbs describes both the WISE and the OTHERWISE. This morning I’m going to take advantage of some research done by one of our WISE church members. Stuart Tyler did some research on the Hebrew words used to describe the “fool.” Today we’re going to look at the FOUR kinds of FOOLS described in the book of Proverbs.
1. The Simple Fool – p-tee
The first kind of Fool is the SIMPLE FOOL. The Hebrew Word used here is p-tee. This is the word used in Proverbs 1:4 where it says these words were written for giving prudence to the simple (p-tee)…
The Hebrew word p-tee is sometimes translated as simple, simple-minded, or foolish. This is the kind of person who might buy that Jiffy Home in the Skit. Let’s ponder these Proverbs about The Simple Fool:
A simple man believes anything, but a prudent man gives thought to his steps. Proverbs 14:15
The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it. Proverbs 27:12
The Simple Fool could be called naïve or gullible. He’s not trying to make wrong moves. He’s just sort of clueless. He doesn’t think ahead. He lives in the moment. And depending on whom he chooses to listen to, the Simple Fool could go either way. He could turn out to become WISE or he could turn out to become OTHERWISE.
The Simple Fool tends to go with the flow. He believes whatever he hears. It reminds me of the way Garrison Keilor described members of the Unitarian Church: They believe whatever book they just finished reading.
Too many people live that way.
· They’ll go to church on Sunday,
· try to contact dead Aunt Tilly in a Séance on Monday,
· attend a “Self-Help Seminar” on Tuesday,
· go to a Neighborhood Bible Study on Wednesday,
· call the Psychic Hotline on Thursday,
· go out drinking and partying on Friday,
· wake up feeling guilty on Saturday and go to Confession.
· But then Saturday afternoon a Jehovah’s Witness comes to the door, so they’re off to the Kingdom Hall on Sunday.
It was Charles R. Bridges who said: “To believe every word of God is faith. To believe every word of man is credulity.”
If the Simple Fool does not turn to God’s truth and AWAY from everything else, he is in grave danger of becoming a Full-fledged Fool. Look at the warning given in Proverbs 1:32 For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them.
If you know someone who’s a Simple Fool, pray for them. And teach them. They are teachable. But --- unfortunately --- the Simple Fool is NOT the only kind of Fool named in Proverbs.
2. The Scoffing Fool – kes-eel
The Hebrew Word kes-eel describes the SCOFFING FOOL. This word is used in Proverbs 1:22: How long will you simple ones love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools (kes-eel) hate knowledge?
To the SCOFFING FOOL, everything is a joke. Life is one big search for entertainment and pleasure. In fact, Proverbs 10:23 says: A fool finds pleasure in evil conduct, but a man of understanding delights in wisdom.
This guy is a real PARTY ANIMAL. We all know the type. To him religion is a bore and God is a big celestial killjoy. The core problem for the Scoffing Fool is found in Proverbs 28:26: He who trusts in himself is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom is kept safe.
He has no interest in learning anything. He’s what we call “FULL OF HIMSELF.” Look at Proverbs 18:2: A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions.
The English word Fool comes from the Latin Follis, which means Bellows. That certainly fits this kind of fool. He’s a WINDBAG --- a BLOW HARD. There are more verses about the Scoffing Fool in Proverbs than any other kind of fool. If you come in contact with this PARTY ANIMAL take the warning of Proverbs 14:7: Stay away from a foolish man, for you will not find knowledge on his lips.
If you know a SIMPLE FOOL, teach them. If you know a SCOFFING FOOL, stay away! Here are three simple reasons:
· He will corrupt you. He who walks with the wise grows wise,
but a companion of fools suffers harm. Proverbs 13:20 (This is the kind of warning parents are always giving their kids when they see them hanging around the wrong kind of friends.)
· You’re wasting your breath talking to him. Do not speak to a fool,
for he will scorn the wisdom of your words. Proverbs 23:9
· You won’t change him. As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly. Proverbs 26:11 (now THERE’s a pretty image!)
There’s much more that could be said about the SCOFFING FOOL, but there are still two more kinds of fools to cover. So let me just sum up a few more warnings from Proverbs:
· Don’t believe anything he says: He lies, gossips, and constantly blurts out foolishness
· Don’t feel sorry for him: He brings all that trouble on himself.
· Don’t give him money: He’ll waste it.
· Don’t argue with him: You’ll end up acting a fool yourself.
· And for heaven’s sake, don’t HIRE him.
3. The Squabbling Fool – ev-eel
Like the SCOFFING FOOL, the SQUABBLING FOOL also refuses to learn wisdom. The Hebrew Word ev-eel is used for this fool. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools (ev-eel) despise wisdom and discipline. Proverbs 1:7
While the SCOFFING FOOL just wants to have fun, the SQUABBLING FOOL is out to make trouble. Look in Proverbs 20:3: It is to a man’s honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel.
This guy is a REACTIONARY type. Proverbs 12:16 adds that, while a wise man will overlook insults, this guy is quick to take offense!
And heaven help you if you get sued by this kind of fool. Proverbs 29:9 warns: If a wise man goes to court with a fool, the fool rages and scoffs, and there is no peace.
The most common conclusion in Proverbs about this fool is that he will come to ruin. The result of his quick temper and know-it-all attitude is trouble, beatings, and even death. This is another guy to STAY AWAY from.
And by the way, if you tend toward the folly of this kind of fool. (That is, if you tend to take offence easily, lose your temper, and spout off at the wrong time.) Take the WISE advice of Proverbs 17:28: Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue. That verse has saved me from looking like a fool many a time!
4. The Smooth-Talking Fool - nabal
The 4th kind of fool mentioned in Proverbs is the most dangerous of all. The Hebrew Word, nabal refers to the SMOOTH-TALKING FOOL. Look at Proverbs 17:7 Arrogant lips are unsuited to a fool (nabal) --- how much worse lying lips to a ruler! The word used for arrogant here could also mean eloquent.
This kind of fool is hard to recognize. He can sound intelligent and erudite. He can seem like a good, moral person. He’s SMOOTH. And God help us when this kind of fool gains a position of power.
Proverbs 30:32 gives more insight into recognizing this SMOOTH-TALKING kind of fool. If you have played the fool and exalted yourself, or if you have planned evil, clap your hand over your mouth!
· The SMOOTH-TALKING FOOL is playing a game. Whether he’s a Politician, a Professor, or a Pastor, his game is to confuse and deceive. False Teachers and Cult leaders fall in this category of fool. The game is to draw you in, whatever it takes. And they are good at it.
· The SMOOTH-TALKING FOOL will always exalt himself. A tip-off is that --- even though he may pretend to be humble --- he is actually full of pride. He is building an empire for Self and Self alone.
· He plans evil on purpose.
The SIMPLE FOOL is naïve.
The SCOFFING FOOL just wants to have fun.
The SQUABBLING FOOL stirs up trouble.
But the SMOOTH-TALKING FOOL has set his course against God.
· This is the Dictator who persecutes Christians in his country.
· This is the College Professor who sets out to destroy the faith of his students.
· This is the False Teacher who mixes God’s truth with lies and creates a cult.
CONCLUSION:
How can we recognize and avoid these kinds of fools?
More important, how can we avoid BECOMING these kinds of fools?
The answer is found in the simple Parable we read at the beginning of this sermon.
Turn away from the shifting sands of worldly wisdom.
Build your life on the solid ROCK of Jesus Christ and HIS truth.
