The Folly of the Fool

The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down.  -Proverbs 14:1

I recently listened to a devotional by Chuck Swindoll that spoke directly to me.  'Fool' is a term we do not use much these days.  However, the Bible has a lot to say about the fool.  A whole lot.  The Bible shoots straight with its truth, calling a spade a spade.  Please, take a listen to a small portion of what scripture says about the fool and see if it can be applied to fools in your own life, or maybe, if you're open to being challenged, even to yourself.





I have been called a fool - by my own wife - because of my belief in Christianity.  How ironic that the Bible tends to associate the word 'fool' with the non-believer.  The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity; there is none who does good.  -Psalm 53:1

To quote the great theologian Mr. T, "I pity the fool."  A fool has to live with who they are.  That is why I think Chuck was right in his interpretation when he suggests that isolation is the best medicine for the fool.  The fool harms many people in their wake, none more so than themselves.  But let's not underscore the hurt caused to others by the fool.  One person's selfish decisions can ruin so many lives so deeply.  If you currently reside in the wake of a fool, perhaps you spend your nights wondering when they will come home and what they are out doing and with whom.  Maybe you wonder why you are kept from going along with them.  Isolate the fool and those nights are no longer your problem.  Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge.  -Proverbs 14:7

To free yourself from the inner prison of the fool, you must forgive them.  Forgiveness does not mean you keep being the victim.  Fools will try to convince you that you are playing the victim when in fact you are the victim of their folly.  Forgiveness means you let go of bitterness, you pray for them, you accept their repentance (if it ever comes), and you don't count their mistakes against them.  Forgiveness does not mean trusting future behavior.  If the fool continues to live a life of hurtful folly, forgive them 7 times 70 times, but isolate them.  Unyoke and be free of the fool.  They cannot be reasoned with.  Your wise words mean nothing to the fool.  The wise lay up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool brings ruin near.  -Proverbs 10:14

I feel like a fool for putting up with the folly for so long.  I remember how 2 different groups of friends warned me that my then wife's relationship with one of her girl friends seemed inappropriate.  I should have listened to them.  Her friend was one of the first people she publicly made out with after I got myself out of the situation for good.  Who knows what went on when they hung out so late each week?  It's not worth wondering.  Just let it go.  hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.  -1 Corinthians 5:5

Fools bring folly down on themselves, digging themselves deeper and deeper into the pit.  What have the fools in your life done to themselves?  Perhaps they have lost just about everything.  The Play Boy lifestyle that the fool seeks suddenly becomes impossible due to their own bad decisions, for the ways of the world promise freedom but true freedom can only come through Christ Jesus.  Calamity plagues them.  Let the story of the fool be a cautionary tale.  But, sometimes hitting rock bottom may be the best thing for a fool, for only then will they consider calling out to God to be placed instead on a firm foundation.  He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.  -Psalm 40:2-3

Beware the mouth of a fool.  Out of it comes all sorts of profanity and nonsense.  Protect your little ones from the tongue of the fool, lest they use those words in their vocabulary.  The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly.  -Proverbs 15:2  Watch out, criticisms of how children are treated are counted against you by the fool; the fool will tell you that you're too critical and will seek retribution.  Compare the fool to the non fool and you will see a contrast in character.  The fool's profanity is not limited to swearing, but also to sexually immoral innuendos.  As Christians we must be careful what we stand for and stand by.  Unbelievers are watching us, waiting to call us hypocrites.  If I stand for sin, I pray my Christian brothers and sisters will correct me in all meekness that my life will bear fruit for my kids so that they may know Christ.

The fool admires them self in the mirror, thinking how much fun it would be to abandon the domestic lifestyle of the family, to instead put this worldly beauty on display to be chased.  "I'm so hot," they think.  Sadly, the world will swallow them up and spit them out.  Like a gold ring in a pig's snout is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.  -Proverbs 11:22

In this I have full confidence:  that over time, with the passing of years, it will go better for them that live in the freedom of the Word than for those who say in their heart there is no God.  To the person who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God.  This too is meaningless, chasing after wind.  - Ecclesiastes 2:26

Pray for the fools in your life, they need it the most.  Just because their folly hurts us doesn't mean we stop loving them.  Those hitting rock bottom sometimes have the best chance to come to Christ.  Besides, haven't we all played the fool at one time or another?