The Travelers You'll Meet, Part 2
W4: Wisdom Walking in a Wicked World • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 36:32
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The Fool: One who acts as if there is no God
The Fool: One who acts as if there is no God
Note: This outline is based off of Orthner, Donald, Wellsprings of Life: Understanding Proverbs.
A. The Fool’s Basic Condition
A. The Fool’s Basic Condition
The fool is self-reliant and proud (Prov. 28:26, Prov. 12:15, 14:3).
Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.
By the mouth of a fool comes a rod for his back, but the lips of the wise will preserve them.
The fool is void of wisdom (Prov. 24:7, 17:16, 18:2); he doesn’t fear the Lord (Proverbs 1:9).
Wisdom is too high for a fool; in the gate he does not open his mouth.
Why should a fool have money in his hand to buy wisdom when he has no sense?
A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.
for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck.
The fool rejects godly instruction (Prov. 1:7, 1:22).
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
“How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?
The fool is deceived by his/her own folly (Prov. 14:8, 14:24, 15:21).
The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deceiving.
The crown of the wise is their wealth, but the folly of fools brings folly.
Folly is a joy to him who lacks sense, but a man of understanding walks straight ahead.
B. The Fool’s Progression as a Fool
B. The Fool’s Progression as a Fool
Nature: Everyone tends toward foolishness from birth (Prov. 22:15).
Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
Apathy: The fool’s former fence-sitting on God’s truth leads to him/her being confirmed in [or “inheriting”] foolishness (Prov. 14:18).
The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
A simple person was one who never fully received a covenant relationship with God through the stipulations of the Mosaic Law; he or she was “open” in a negative sense, waffling back and forth between external religion and an internal reception of truth.
Today, a simple person could be compared to a teen guy who has grown up in a Christian home, but he has never received the truth personally. Or a teen gal that has never submitted to Jesus Christ, but outwardly does everything expected of a believer. She hasn’t “bought into” Christ yet, entrusting herself fully to the salvation he provides.
Such a position, unless abandoned, leads to an inheritance that is undesirable: Foolishness.
Confirmed: Now the fool is hopeless (from a human perspective, outside of God’s divine activity) (Prov. 27:22, 26:11, 17:10).
Crush a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain, yet his folly will not depart from him.
Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly.
A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding than a hundred blows into a fool.
C. By a fool’s conduct, you’ll know him/her.
C. By a fool’s conduct, you’ll know him/her.
The fool practices and enjoys sin (Prov. 13:19, 10:23, 14:9).
A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but to turn away from evil is an abomination to fools.
Doing wrong is like a joke to a fool, but wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding.
Fools mock at the guilt offering, but the upright enjoy acceptance.
The fool lacks self-control (Prov. 12:16, 13:16, 14:16, 27:3).
The vexation of a fool is known at once, but the prudent ignores an insult.
Every prudent man acts with knowledge, but a fool flaunts his folly.
One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless.
A stone is heavy, and sand is weighty, but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both.
The fool disdains and grieves his/her parents (Prov. 15:20, 15:5, 17:21).
A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish man despises his mother.
A fool despises his father’s instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is prudent.
He who sires a fool gets himself sorrow, and the father of a fool has no joy.
The fool deserves severe punishment (Prov. 19:29, 26:3).
Condemnation is ready for scoffers, and beating for the backs of fools.
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools.
D. By a fool’s speech, you’ll know him/her.
D. By a fool’s speech, you’ll know him/her.
The fool’s words reveal his/her foolish nature (Prov. 15:2, 12:23, 15:14, 29:11).
The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly.
A prudent man conceals knowledge, but the heart of fools proclaims folly.
The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly.
A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.
The fool’s words are often is illogical (Prov. 26:7, 9).
Like a lame man’s legs, which hang useless, is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
Like a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
The fool’s words contributes to his/her eventual downfall (Prov. 18:6-7, 10:14).
A fool’s lips walk into a fight, and his mouth invites a beating. A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
The wise lay up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool brings ruin near.
The fool treats words very dangerously (Proverbs 18:1-9):
The fool is proudly and loudly opinionated (Prov. 18:2).
A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.
The fool is clueless to the power of his words (Prov. 18:4).
The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
The fool uses his words to cozy up to those who can further his/her agenda, even at the expense of justice (Prov. 18:5).
It is not good to be partial to the wicked or to deprive the righteous of justice.
The fool is quick to speak, especially when he knows it will create division (Prov. 18:6).
A fool’s lips walk into a fight, and his mouth invites a beating.
The fool doesn’t realize he carries his own destruction in his mouth (Prov. 18:7).
A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
The fool gossips about anyone and anything, for the joy of a juicy story (Prov. 18:8).
The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.
“Let’s all admit it. We love gossip. We love negative information about other people. We love controversy. We find it delicious. It is a delicacy—to our corrupt hearts. We gulp these words down with relish. But the contagion goes down into us and makes a deep impression and leaves us even sicker than we were before. Truly, God is not mocked.”
Do you speak up when others are put down? Or do you just stand there and listen in sinful silence as the blast of gossip and slander hits you in the face. God says, “open your mouth.” with every unkind word that goes unconfronted, a reputation dies. So much is at stake in our words. They matter not just to us but even more, far more, to God. We are always speaking before the face of God.” (Ortlund, Proverbs, 134)
E. The Fool’s Tragic End
E. The Fool’s Tragic End
His life will end in failure and shame (Prov. 10:8,10; 11:29, 3:35).
The wise of heart will receive commandments, but a babbling fool will come to ruin.
Whoever winks the eye causes trouble, and a babbling fool will come to ruin.
Whoever troubles his own household will inherit the wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.
The wise will inherit honor, but fools get disgrace.
He will die in his self-determined condition (Prov. 10:21, 1:32).
The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of sense.
For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them;
F. The Believer’s Response to the Fool
F. The Believer’s Response to the Fool
Avoid him/her (Prov. 14:7, 17:12).
Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge.
Let a man meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs rather than a fool in his folly.
Don’t rely on him/her (Prov. 26:6).
Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.
Don’t give him/her recognition (Prov. 26:1, 8).
Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.
Like one who binds the stone in the sling is one who gives honor to a fool.
Don’t debate with him (Prov. 29:9, 23:9, 26:4).
If a wise man has an argument with a fool, the fool only rages and laughs, and there is no quiet.
Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the good sense of your words.
Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself.
Rebuke him only if it will do him good (Prov. 26:5); this is often a very challenging wisdom issue.
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
Questions for reflection:
Questions for reflection:
* Questions taken from Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary: Exalting Jesus in Proverbs, copyright 2017 by Jonathan Akin and Daniel L. Akin.
Do you often make decisions that focus on yourself and disregard the interests of others?
Are you open to, and even desirous of, the counsel of others?
Are you a loner? Can you identify a circle of good and faithful friends?
Are you more of a listener or a talker?
Do you feel like you always have to win an argument? Do you see destructive results from such conversations?
Would you characterize your speech as a flowing river of wisdom? If yes, why? If no, why?
Do you cozy up to those who can further your agenda whether or not they walk with Christ? If yes, is this really wise?
Can you think of times when your mouth has gotten you into trouble?
What are your attitude and actions concerning gossip? Try to answer honestly.
Are there individuals you need to apologize to for your part in gossiping with them, or for failing to speak up on behalf of others?
Read 1 Cor. 1:28-31 and James 1:5-6. From these verses, what is the first step in addressing any elements of foolishness visible in your life? Who alone is capable o removing the folly from your life?
Spend some time in prayer to God, confessing how you have played the part of a fool, thanking him for making Jesus to be your wisdom, and asking for continued wisdom from God. Ask for grace from the Holy Spirit to address these areas biblically.