Are You a Fool?

With the new school year there will come choices that you will have to make that are not going to be easy. This week I would like to talk about the second type of person that we have the choice to be. The last few weeks we’ve talked about being a wise person and making wise choices and what would happen to you if you live a life that is truly seeking God. Today we will talk about the opposite of that. I want us to look at what a fool looks like.

The Fool

In Proverbs 1:7 we find the simplest definition of what a fool is. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

A fool knows what is right but decides to do the opposite. By this definition we are all fools. We all know right from wrong. Since we all know that and at times we all decide to do what is wrong, we are all fools. But thankfully that is not the only qualification. Fools choose to do what is wrong. They follow their desires and live for the moment. Here is what the book of Proverbs has to say about fools.

Proverbs 29:11 -
• A foolish person does not think before they act. They give into every passion and desire they have without considering the consequences

Proverbs 26:11 –
• How can you tell a wise person from a fool when we all sin? A fool repeats his folly; a wise person repents and turns away.

Proverbs 26:7 –
• A fool thinks he knows everything therefore teaching them is worthless.

Proverbs 17:28 –
• It is better to let people think you are a fool than to open your mouth and prove that you are.

Proverbs 14:16 –
• If you don’t think about your decisions and how they will affect you in the long run, you are a fool

Proverbs 13:20
• You are who your friends are and the actions of your friends will directly affect you and the way people perceive you.

Proverbs 12:15 –
• Fools think they have all the answers and do not listen to wisdom. They are confident in their own knowledge and do not seek wisdom.

Proverbs 11:29 –
• If you are foolish you will always be in a position under someone

Proverbs 9:6 –
• Making foolish choices is a matter of life and death

Proverbs 28:26 –
• Even though we mess up and do what is wrong, if we trust in God and walk wisely we will be delivered.

As a Christian we are called to something more, the world will tell you if it feels good do it, whether it has to do with drugs, alcohol, sex, popularity, or any other thing that feels good at the moment; that kind of thinking is foolishness. We are called to something more, we are called to live a life that is made up of wise choices. You may think that it is impossible. That being in middle school or high school means that you can’t make wise choices because it is too hard. We were never promised an easy road. Making wise choices will be hard. Not being a fool is not easy, but it is vital to walking with Christ.

Even though you may not know as much as some others, you can still live a life that is not wrapped up in foolishness. When we talked about making wise choices we determined that it is possible. It is hard to do, but if you put everything in your life in its proper place of priority and seek Christ above all else, there is no doubt in my mind that you will stand a better chance of not being a fool.