It’s April Fools’ Day! I have always thought of the prank victim as being the fool, but the Bible says the perpetrator of a trick is actually the fool.
Look at Proverbs 10:23:
It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.
Or Proverbs 26:18-19:
Like a madman who throws pieces of burning wood and arrows of death, so is the man who fools his neighbor with a lie, and says, “I was only joking.”
Here are some other characteristics of a fool.
He doesn’t want to learn
Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. Proverbs 18:2
or listen to others
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice. Proverbs 12:15
including his father.
A fool despises his father's instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is prudent. Proverbs 15:5
He is associated with sin,
For the fool speaks folly, and his heart is busy with iniquity,
to practice ungodliness, to utter error concerning the Lord, to leave the craving of the hungry unsatisfied, and to deprive the thirsty of drink. Isaiah 32:6
denying God,
The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” Psalm 14:1
lacking in self control,
A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back. Proverbs 29:11
and holding on to anger.
Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the bosom of fools. Ecclesiastes 7:9
The fool eventually self-destructs.
The fool folds his hands and eats his own flesh. Ecclesiastes 4:5
Some of those hit pretty close to home. They all stem from being centered on me instead of God centered. The failure to trust God leads to self-destruction and also harm to others. I want to focus on God, honoring Him, and strive to be counted among the wise.
1 Response