Posts Tagged ‘a fool’

Proverbs 29:20 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: October 29, 2014 in Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs 29, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Proverbs 29:20 Do you see a man who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for him

Slow down! Do not talk so fast! Think before you speak! Make sure you know what you are talking about before sounding off. A person that talks fast, talks often, and answers quickly is worse than a fool. A fool will get in trouble due to ignorance, but a man who answers or speaks before thinking is going to be punished. He is worse than a fool.

God’s wisdom is simple – “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath” (Jas 1:19). You have two ears and one mouth: let this proportion be reflected in your listening and speaking. Many have their mouths running before their minds are in gear, and they are a danger to themselves and a stench to others.

A righteous man studies before answering; wicked men pour out verbal nonsense without study (Pr 15:28). The good man is cautious before speaking, because he wants to make certain he only speaks the words of truth (Pr 22:20-21). The arrogant fool likes to hear himself talk, so he is busy talking whenever possible, regardless of truth (Eccl 10:12-13).

Have you ever met a person who answers before questions are fully posed? Have you ever done this? It is folly and shame to answer a dilemma you have not yet fully heard (Pr 18:13). What causes a man to answer so presumptuously? Arrogance and conceit! He is so sure of himself, he talks without deliberation; there is more hope of a fool (Pr 26:12).

Fools are stupid, but hasty and impulsive talkers are proud. There is some hope to help a fool overcome his stupidity and stubbornness, but there is less or no hope to help a proud man see his deficiencies in character and conduct to change them. His self-righteous confidence, the greatest of sins, will not allow him to be corrected. He will not seek a multitude of counselors to obtain safety, because he assumes he is right (Pr 11:14; 15:22).

Fools say all that is in their minds without any necessity or request, but a wise man will listen carefully to see if he ought to tell what he knows or not (Pr 29:11). This is wisdom, reader. No one wants to know your opinion or thoughts until they ask for it, and then they want you to stay on topic and only say things you have previously confirmed as truth.

How many have brought God’s judgment down on them for speaking hastily in the house of God (Eccl 5:1-7)? It is better not to vow, than to vow and not pay. Sober reflection is superior to the crackling of fools (Eccl 7:2-6). They merely make a lot of vain noise. It can also happen in writing, so be cautious before replying with a hasty email. Slow men are better than fast men, and hasty thoughts will get you in trouble (Pr 14:29; 21:5).

If you want to please God and men with your life, then slow down in speech and be careful about every word, for many words often lead to sin (Pr 10:19). Let your speech be always with grace and seasoned only a little with criticism or rebuke (Col 4:6). If you love pureness of heart, your speech will be gracious and promote you with great men (Pr 22:11). This result is totally opposite the hopeless destruction of the fast-talking fool.

Proverbs 15:33 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: August 16, 2014 in Uncategorized
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Under Gods Command

Proverbs 15:33 The fear of the LORD teaches a man wisdom, and humility comes before honor

How important is the fear of the LORD for getting wisdom? Absolutely crucial! You will not get close to wisdom without fearing God (Job 28:28). How important is humility to getting honor? Absolutely crucial! You will not get close to true honor without it (Pr 11:2; 16:18; 18:12; 29:23). If you love wisdom and seek the favor of God and men, then here are the rules for your life: humble yourself before God and men in the fear of God.

What is the fear of the Lord? It is a reverent awe for Him and His power, a deep respect for His commandments and laws, and a fearful regard for the punishment He can bring on the foolish. It is not a slavish, demoralizing fear that causes terror or distress. It is a fervent and holy desire to please Him in all things and fulfill His desire for your life as close as possible. It is the sober realization that He is God and you are His mere creature.

 What is humility? It is the knowledge that you are very fallible, very foolish, and very weak. It is the willingness to reject your own thoughts and opinions in order to be taught by God or men wiser than yourself. It is the ability to take correction, confess your faults, and change your methods based on the instruction of others. It is the discipline to keep your mouth shut, avoid the conflicts of others, and forgive their offences against you.

 The importance of these two prerequisites cannot be overstated. Moses taught the fear of the Lord (Deut 10:12), and so did Joshua (Josh 24:14), Samuel (I Sam 12:14,20,24), David (Ps 34:9-11), and Solomon (Eccl 12:13-14). It was the conclusion of Solomon’s conclusive experimentation! It is the whole duty of man! The very foundation of wisdom requires the fear of God: without it you cannot even get started (Pr 1:7; 9:10; Ps 111:10).

The surest and shortest way to honor is the hovel of humility! Get down, before God and men put you down! If you get down, God and men will put you up! The lesson is certain; the law is infallible. God resists the proud, but He helps the humble. It is the way of Him Who cannot stand the stench of human confidence! Joseph reached the throne through the slave market and prison. Jesus reached the throne of glory through a stable and a cross!

 Moses and David became pastors of a nation after pastoring sheep in great obscurity. Gideon and Jephthah had little pedigree or position, but God promoted them over His people. Rahab and Ruth were despised foreigners, one a prostitute and one a widow, but both are in the lineage of Jesus Christ! Daniel and Esther were orphaned early and captured by pagan kingdoms, but both rose to the right hand of power! Abigail said she was unworthy to wash the feet of David’s servants, but he chose her to be his wife!

 When you fear the Lord, you have no fear of man, which corrupts the hearts of most men (Pr 29:25). If peer pressure does not bother you, and if threats do not intimidate you, then you will be proportionately wiser by not wasting mental effort or making moral compromise based on what others might think or do. Can you grasp this wisdom?

 When you fear the Lord, you have wonderful knowledge, precepts, and principles that others do not have – you have the words of God to guide your thinking and actions. The man who fears the Lord trembles before His word (Is 66:2). Even pagans can recognize the great advantage of the Bible (Deut 4:5-8; Ps 19:7; 111:10; 119:98-100).

 When you fear the Lord, you are accountable to a Judge higher than earthly authority. Men sin easily when the only risk is the displeasure or punishment of other men, but the fear of God brings the greatest motivation for a man to make wise and righteous choices. It was this fact that kept Joseph back from Potiphar’s wife and David from killing Saul.

 When you are humble, you think before you speak, and you speak gently and kindly, because you know the foolishness of your heart and lips. Such caution and reservation brings respect and honor, even from kings (Pr 15:1; 16:13; 17:27-28; 22:11). Grasp it!

 When you are humble, you get down before God and men. In that position, He gives grace and wisdom. In that position, He avenges you from your enemies. In that position, He exalts you above others, for He will crush the proud and promote the humble. In that position, He knows that exalting you will not bring the arrogance of self-confidence.

Reader, you have been shown the way of wisdom and honor. The blessed God of heaven inspired these words through the wisest and most honored king in history. Do you love and fear the God of heaven with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength? If not, get down now and begin! Do you despise your deceitful heart, foolish lips, and weak flesh enough to cry unto God that you are a lost cause? If not, confess your arrogance and begin!

Proverbs 29:09 Wisdom from the Soul

Posted: July 30, 2014 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs 29, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Proverbs 29:09 If a wise man goes to court with a fool, the fool rages and scoffs and there is no peace.

Fools are hopeless! And they are a pain! No matter what methods you use, they cannot and will not learn wisdom. They are incorrigibly foolish, stubbornly conceited, and rebelliously wicked. You can try anger or humor, but nothing will change their foolish hearts. There is only one Physician for this disease, only one Counselor for these lunatics.

What is a fool? A fool denies God’s authority – in words or actions (Ps 14:1). A fool trusts his own heart and rejects instruction (Pr 28:6; 15:5). He hates wisdom and loves folly, though he will not admit it. He is not merely foolish; he has been given over to folly. He thinks, speaks, and acts contrary to wisdom and convention. He loves himself.

You will meet these cantankerous creatures. Solomon here prepared his son for these frustrating encounters. Rather than fall into despair over helping them, Solomon warned that there are no methods available to man to change these difficult persons. If the Lord does not change their hearts, they will sink into hell with them (Pr 20:12; II Tim 2:24-26).

You cannot reason with them: they are unreasonable – they have no faith (II Thess 3:2). They do not seek the living God (Heb 11:6). They are incorrigible (Pr 27:22). They may know and recite Scripture or doctrine, but it means nothing. The Lord of glory will reject many accomplished Pharisees and preachers in the Day of Judgment (Matt 7:21-23).

Intimidation and threats will not teach a fool, neither will friendship and humor. You will be frustrated! There is no rest! Fools love being fools – they love their folly – and you will not change them. The wise thing to do is get away from them, as Solomon, Jesus, and Paul said (Pr 9:6; 13:20; 14:7; 26:4-5; Matt 7:6; I Cor 15:33). Stay away from them!

What horror to give birth to a fool (Pr 17:21,25)! What horror to marry a fool (Pr 30:23; I Sam 25:25)! What horror to be born to a fool (I Sam 20:30-34)! But if the truth is told, you were born a fool! You were as corrupt as the worst fool of hell (Rom 3:9-18; Ep 2:1-3; Tit 3:3). Only the renewing and regeneration of the Holy Spirit saved you (Tit 3:5)!

What evangelistic methods can save a fool? What approach can win him from his love of sin to love Jesus Christ and righteousness instead? There are none! None at all! Abraham told the rich man that even Lazarus coming back from the dead would be a worthless evangelist (Luke 16:27-31). And a change of environment will not do a thing either (Is 26:10). There is nothing you can tell a sinner to influence him in the least (I Cor 1:18; 2:14; II Cor 4:3-4). His mind is at war against God and will not change (Rom 8:7-8).

In spite of all the soul-saving braggadocio and money-begging extortion of the modern missionary movement, neither Mother Theresa nor Billy Graham can save a single fool from his depraved heart. Fools must be born again (John 3:3), resurrected from spiritual death (John 5:24-25), and quickened into life (Eph 2:1-3) by the voice of the Son of God and power of the Holy Ghost. Salvation is of the Lord! If you love wisdom and heavenly things and are living a life dedicated to God’s glory, bless His name for saving you!