Proverbs 26:3-10 – The Fool
Verse 3 – The fool does not listen to reason or persuasion. They are selfish, full of pride. They need the rod, and they have it. Discipline is the test. What is the fruit? In the true child of God, discipline drives him to Christ, to obey and to love. In the fool, discipline leads to hardness and rebellion.
Verses 4-5 – Is the Bible contradicting itself here? No, it’s giving two different methods, both necessary for dealing with a fool. If the fool is mocking and making jokes about God, bringing up silly arguments, it’s better to just not waste your time in answering. If we have to reply, then we shouldn’t reply foolishly ourselves. But sometimes it is our duty to speak. Silence may be mistaken for defeat. Unanswered words may be seen as unanswerable, and the fool becomes proud. An answer is called for, and foolishness needs to be pointed out, and the truth spoken. Pray for wisdom to know when to keep silent and when to speak.
Verses 6-10 – The fool is unfit for service. When a message is sent by him, there are so many mistakes, careless or wilful, that only damage results. We have to be careful to entrust important business to trustworthy persons. Fools are either unqualified, or they have their own interests to serve. The fool exposes his foolishness. The honour given to him makes him a curse to his fellow creatures. It’s very dangerous to put unqualified persons in authority. But the fool also hurts himself. He is oblivious to the things of God – no matter how sharply the Word pricks him, he ignores it.
The man who hires a fool is not thinking about what he is doing, and the result is disaster. What a picture of the man who has no time for God in his life!
Questions
- Who is a fool?
- How do we deal with what fools say?
- Why is it dangerous to put a fool in authority?
Prayer Points
- Pray for the preaching and hearing of God’s Word tomorrow.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.