Listen not to the fool

DEVOTION

PROVERBS

LISTEN NOT TO THE FOOL

Prov 26:7

7 Like a lame man's legs that hang limp is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

NIV

Once again we are with this fool, this either silly or stupid person. Of course that pretty much defines anyone who has refused to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. But this fool is no ordinary fool, who rejects the gospel, or has no knowledge of it. This fool has knowledge of the scriptures for we are told he quotes the proverbs. But because this fool is compared to a lame man’s legs that hang limp, that are useless to him, the fool may quote proverbs, but has no real understanding of their truth, and they are useless to him. This might apply to all of scripture as well. It is evident we have some fools who believe they are believers, but have been deceived by false teachers, wolves in sheep clothing. The hordes of people who flock to listen to the silver tongues spewing delightful words to titillate the ears and hearts of their victims or rather captives is evidence enough. The truth to those people is useless, they cannot hear it, their hearts and minds are so focused on their hearing falsehoods. The truth is useless to them even when they quote some verse, especially when it is out of context. This proverb also tells us we need to examine the scriptures, study them, explore the truth within the whole of scripture, not just one or a couple of verses, for example that God is obligated by his own word to give us anything we ask for. Therefor we can ask for lots of money, or a new car, and he has to give it to us. How bizarre, but they say, Jesus said that we could ask anything in his name. But we know everything we ask must be in accordance with the will of God. The fool has a man-centered religion, he quotes verses which bring God to serve him. The righteous, the true believer, the non-fool understands his faith is God-centered, everything is about God, not about us. We exist to bring praise and glory to God, he does not exist to bless us with things. So the fool misuses the proverb, the scripture to serve himself, but it is useless in his mouth, he does not get anything for he is double-minded. When it comes down to the reality of God, he has told us all scripture is breathed from him and it is useful for teaching, rebuking, correction and training in righteous. This is for a reason. The whole of one portion of the letter Paul writes to Timothy which includes this phrase, “God-breathed” is an example of this truth in this proverb.

2 Tim 3

3:1 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. 6 They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, 7 always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the truth — men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. 9 But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone. 10 You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, 11 persecutions, sufferings — what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. 12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

NIV

People will be deceived and the truth is useless to them, but if we understand the truth, if we find it within all of scripture then we will thoroughly be equipped for every good work. And what is every good work, it is the work of God, and the work of God is:

John 6:29

29 Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent." 

NIV

We are to do the work of God which is to bring people to the truth of God, so that he might be glorified in their lives. The good work is the good news. Let us not listen to the quotes of fools, but rather listen to the truth which the Spirit within reveals to us.