Wisdom for the Ages: Forsake the Fools in Your Life. Message Magazine’s Online Devotional for Sunday, March 18, 2018
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“Forsake the foolish, and live; And go in the way of understanding” (Proverbs 9:6).
Fools On Hold
One of the things I love about the Bible is its practicality. Don’t ever let anyone tell you it’s not practical.
Today’s passage is as clear as it gets. If you want to live in this world with knowledge, wisdom, and understanding, turn your back on foolishness. That is to say avoid all foolish thinking, foolish people (unless you are being of service to them), foolish jesting, foolish behavior, and all of your foolish ways.
Here’s the thing: foolishness, in the Bible sense, is not just silliness, which we should probably avoid most times. Bible foolishness is tantamount to evil. In fact, one of the Hebrew terms for “fool” in the book of Proverbs sounds like word “evil.”
No Time for Foolishness
That gives perspective, doesn’t it? This is why kings Solomon and David gave the following counsel, respectively: “How long will you simpletons love naiveté? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge? If only you will respond to my rebuke, then I will pour out my thoughts to you and I will make my words known to you” (Proverbs 1:22–23, NET). “How blessed is the one who does not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand in the pathway with sinners, or sit in the assembly of scoffers! Instead he finds pleasure in obeying the Lord’s commands; he meditates on his commands day and night” (Psalm 1:1–2, NET).
God does not take pleasure in foolishness. The times in which we live are serious, and all heaven is astir providing support and rescue to as many as are willing to be delivered from evil. While we live our daily lives accomplishing our tasks, building relationships, making wise investments, building family bonds, etc., let us keep our eyes fixed on the prize – eternity with God.
A word to the foolish is wasteful. A word to the wise is sufficient.
