LIVING TRUTHS FROM THE PROVERBS

PART 29

FOOLISHNESS (FOLLY)

I. Many of the subjects that we have studied in the past we have referenced wisdom, knowledge or understanding in one way or another. We see it in the different styles of Hebrew poetry; antithetical, synonymous, synthetic or in step parallelisms. Foolishness is no different and we will see the three subjects together several times as we study this theme of foolishness. Foolishness or folly is the exact opposite of the wisdom of God, the understanding of God and the knowledge of God. It is defined as follows from the dictionary.

A. 1. Foolish behavior: FOLLY 2. a foolish act or idea.

Since "folly" is a synonym for foolishness, a definition of it is appropriate also.

A. 1. Lack of good sense or normal prudence and foresight 2. a foolish act or idea. 3. a. obs EVIL. WICKEDNESS. esp lewd behavior b. criminally or tragically foolish actions or conduct.

Wilson’s' Old Testament Word Studies defines the word used in the Proverbs as: "a fool, to whom 'ivelleth' is always in Prov. assigned, is one who is not delighted with understanding, who trusts in his own heart or mind, to whom confidence and a fond expectation of some good are so peculiar, that from it he receives his especial designation; opposed to a prudent man, and to a wise man, it involves the charge of impiety....folly." Other related words mean "silly, to act stupidly, absurdly, careless, ignorant"

II. Men (males) do not have a monopoly on foolishness. The Bible teaches us that it is a sin that is common to all. Men, women and children are all prone to its' ability to portray itself from time to time. It either causes humility to come about after being displayed or it continues to establish itself in well rooted sin.

A. Children are born with and grow up with it.

1. Prov. 10:1;

2. Prov. 22:15;

B. Women too are foolish.

1. Prov. 14:1;

C. Men are referenced as the most foolish.

1. Prov. 14:7;

III. God in His incomprehensible love, gives even the foolish a call to partake of His wisdom, understanding and knowledge that is so well outlined in His Word. None are exempt from His love; none will be with an excuse on judgment day because God has given every man His truth that sets them free from foolishness.

A. The call to understanding.

1. Prov. 8:5;

B. Gods' grace is upon all.

1. Prov. 26:10;

IV. God also has some things to say to the foolish that are not what we would consider "positive". He speaks these truths so that there can be no mistaking that God is a holy God and that He does not tolerate sin.

A. A fool is guaranteed to fall.

1. Prov. 10:8,10;

B. God says that the poor in his integrity is better off than a fool.

1. Prov. 19:1;

C. A graphic description of a fool.

1. Prov. 26:11;

V. The foolish have certain characteristics that mark them. They are easy to recognize and we as children of God are to be able to recognize the fool. We are not to be involved in his doings or his lifestyles.

A. Atheism is a mark of a fool.

1. Ps. 53:1;

B. A fool is a slanderous person.

1. Prov. 10:18;

C. Mocking sin identifies a foolish person.

1. Prov. 14:9;

D. The foolish hate instruction.

1. Prov. 15:5;

E. Folly brings injury to oneself.

1. Prov. 18:6;

F. A quarrelsome person is a fool.

1. Prov. 20:3;

G. There is a trusting in self.

1. Prov. 28:26;

H. The fool is untrustworthy.

1. Prov. 26:6;

I. A fool in his folly is one who has no control.

1. Prov. 17:12;

VI. Foolishness, like so many other types of sin, manifests itself in various ways. According to the Bible it is expressed mostly by the words that are spoken, where they are spoken or when they are spoken. Sometimes it is exhibited just by actions alone.

A. The mouth is the main instrument of folly.

1. Prov. 12:23;

2. Prov. 15:2;

3. Prov. 18:2;

B. Just in daily living the stupidity of foolishness exalts itself.

1. Eccl. 10:3;

VII. As Christians, we are not to allow foolishness or folly to be a part of our lives. By the power of the Holy Spirit we can control the sin of foolishness. So how do we deal with a foolish person? God gives us some clear direction to follow.

A. There are ways to answer a fool.

1. Prov. 26:4;

2. Prov. 26:5;

B. The bestowing of honor to a fool is useless.

1. Prov. 26:8;

C. Even in our business dealings we are to be careful.

1. Prov. 26:10;

D. The weapons we use to battle foolishness are to be those of the Spirit not of the flesh.

1. Prov. 27:22;

VIII. The differences between those who follow after wisdom, knowledge and understanding or those who pursue foolishness are clear in Gods' Word. As those who were called out of darkness it is our responsibility to walk in the former and not the latter. If we do, we will enjoy the blessings of God and not the discipline of our Holy Father.

A. Wisdom is wealth, folly begets folly.

1. Prov. 14:24;

B. Understanding brings life, folly, punishment.

1. Prov. 16:22;

C. The fool doesn't know how to express wisdom. When he does it is not by something that he knows how to do.

1. Prov. 24:7;

2. Prov. 17:28;

The Bible speaks of foolishness more than what this lesson could cover. But in what we have studied it is clear that for anyone especially Christians) to act foolish is foolishness; it is also sin. Another of the "weights that so easily beset us...", let us recognize the sin and ask God for change in our hearts so that we may go on to perfection.