Since it’s April 1st, I thought it might be appropriate to consider how the bible describes a fool. Not a silly “April fool”, where someone falls for a trick or prank, but the kind that bring on their own destruction. The bible has a LOT to say about a fool, read on and you’ll see what I mean:

Psalm 14:1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.

Psalm 92:5-6 O LORD, how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep. A brutish man knoweth not; neither doth a fool understand this.

Proverbs 7:22-23 He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks; Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.

Proverbs 10:8 The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.

Proverbs 10:23 It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.

Proverbs 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.

Proverbs 13:16 Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly.

Proverbs 17:12 Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.

Proverbs 17:21 He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.

Proverbs 18:2 A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.

Proverbs 26:3-12 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back. Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit. He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage. The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools. As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool. As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools. The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors. As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly. Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.

Ecclesiastes 4:5 The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.

Ecclesiastes 10:12-14 The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself. The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness. A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?

I often teach my son that sin is a loss of self-control. But obviously the scriptures also teach too much of “self” can be a deadly thing. When a person makes up their mind that nothing else anyone says is important, that they don’t need instruction, that God himself is just someone dreamt up to keep the masses from killing each other, they behave like a fool. Note these scriptures well! A fool is worthy of stripes and is almost without hope. A fool is not only a danger to himself, but to those around him. A fool does something evil and thinks it’s funny, not a shame.

What is the old saying? Better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you’re a fool than to open it and remove all doubt. If only we had more April Fools and a lot less bible fools!

Randy