A fool
[Proverbs 26:1-12]
For 50 elderly people who are over 95 years old, the first of the three answers to the question ‘If you are given life again, how would you like to live?’ the first answer is ‘I would reflect more’ (Internet). Today we want to take a moment to reflect ourselves on the word of God, which is the spiritual mirror. That reflection is whether we are wise or foolish in the light of the word of God.
First, let's think of five things about “the wise” in the Bible.
(1) The wise has ears to hear.
Look at Proverbs 15:31 – “He who listens to a life-giving rebuke will be at home among the wise.” The wise not only hear God's commands (words) (10:8), but also listens to advice (12:15).
(2) The wise has knowledge.
Look at Proverbs 10:14 – “Wise men store up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool invites ruin.” Not only that, the wise spreads knowledge (15:7).
(3) The wise fears God and shuns evil.
Look at Proverbs 14:16 – “A wise man fears the LORD and shuns evil, but a fool is hotheaded and reckless.” The wise is on the upward way of life (15:24).
(4) The wise uses his lips wisely.
Look at Proverbs 16:23 – “A wise man's heart guides his mouth, and his lips promote
instruction.”
(5) The wise controls his anger.
Look at Proverbs 29:11 – “A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself
under control.”
So, who is “A fool” in the Bible? He is the spiritual fool and we can summarize in four ways:
(1) The Bible says that he who doesn’t know God is the fool.
Look at Psalms 14:1 – “The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good.”
(2) The Bible says that he who mocks at sin is the fool.
Look at Proverbs 14:9 – “Fools mock at sin, But among the upright there is good will.”
(3) The Bible says that he who doesn’t want to be rebuked is the fool.
Look at Proverbs 1:22-25: “How long, O naive ones, will you love being simple-minded? And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing And fools hate knowledge? Turn to my reproof, Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you. Because I called and you refused, I stretched out my hand and no one paid attention; And you neglected all my counsel And did not want my reproof.”
(4) The Bible says that he who doesn’t prepare for the soul (afterlife) is the fool.
Look at Luke 12:16-21: “And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.' Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I'll say to myself, ‘You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.’ But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?'”
In Proverbs 26:1-12, King Solomon speaks of “the fool”. Let us receive the lessons God gives us while meditating on nine things about the fool.
First, honor is not fitting for the fool.
Do you know who hit the most in American baseball history? As a person named Pete Rose (74 years old), he played 3,562 games in the Big League for 23 years from 1963 to 1986, hitting a record high of 4,256 hits. Excluding this guy, Ty Cobb (4,191 hits) is the only hitting record that even stepped on the 4,000 hits. With this record, he could stand in the Hall of Fame in the American Professional Baseball (MLB), but he was ousted from the baseball world for nearly 30 years because of gambling (Internet). Here, the American Professional Baseball Hall of Fame is ‘a space created to commemorate those who have contributed to the development of baseball. To be listed there, major league players are among the players who have played for at least 10 years and who have played for at least five years after retirement. It is said that contributors are selected by the votes of their reporters, and if more than 75% of the votes are received, the contribution will be confirmed in the Hall of Fame (Internet). In 1989, when he served as the Cincinnati Reds manager, Rose, who denied the agreement while investing money on the results of Cincinnati's game, was suspicious of gambling in the major leagues. By doing this, I agreed with the Secretariat of the Major Leagues and left the baseball world. Then, 15 years later, in 2004, he published an autobiography and admitted to gambling. However, it seems that this time, as the commissioner of the U.S. pro baseball has changed, a new commissioner, Rob Manfred, has opened up the possibility of joining Rose's Hall of Fame (Internet). Do you think this person should or shouldn't be listed on the American Professional Baseball Hall of Fame?
If we look back at Proverbs 25:27, which we have already meditated on, the Bible says: “It is not good to eat too much honey, nor is it honorable to seek one's own honor.” Here, we learned that there are two kinds of honor: Desire for honor and greed for honor. And when the Bible Proverbs 25:27 says that it isn’t honorable (it is vain) to seek one’s own honor, the “honor” here is greed for honor. What is greed for honor? It pursues self-honor by making honor itself a purpose, regardless of means or method. We should always be on the lookout of this greed. For example, I think of “Nabal” in 1 Samuel 25 in the Old Testament. He was very wealthy and had 3,000 sheep and 1,000 goats (v. 2). And he was the wicked man “was harsh and evil in his dealing” (v. 3). Since he had returned David's good for evil (v. 21), David decided not to leave all the men belonging to Nabal behind (v. 22) and to harm his whole house (v. 17). Hear the words of his wise wife, Abigail, who fell at David's feet: “On me alone, my lord, be the blame. And please let your maidservant speak to you, and listen to the words of your maidservant. Please do not let my lord pay attention to this worthless man, Nabal, for as his name is, so is he. Nabal is his name and folly is with him; but I your maidservant did not see the young men of my lord whom you sent” (vv.24-25). Is honor fitting for such a fool?
If we look at Proverbs 26:1, the Bible says, “Like snow in summer and like rain in harvest, So honor is not fitting for a fool.” Have you ever seen snow in the summer in your life? Have you ever seen rain in the harvest? You probably haven't seen snow in the summer. Maybe you've seen it rain at harvest time, but it's rare. And if it rains during harvest, it will damage the crops. The Bible says that “So honor is not fitting for a fool” (v. 1). It is said that honoring the fool isn’t fitting as it snows in the summer (Walvoord). Also, the Bible says that honoring the fool isn’t as fitting like one who binds a stone in a sling (v. 8). Imagine. What if you were about to throw a stone and tied it to the sling? The stone cannot be thrown (Park). It is not only irrelevant but also nonsense to honor the fool, stubborn, and wicked man like Nabal. If someone else, like Nabal, honors those who repay good for evil, it will damage many people, as if it rains at harvest and damages crops. In that sense, I don't think it's appropriate for a baseball player named Pete Rose to enter the American Professional Baseball Hall of Fame. Although he is the legendary baseball player with the most hits in the history of American professional baseball, what would be the “honor” of that Hall of Fame if the man who gambled on his team's baseball game while he was a coach? And if his name was on the Hall of Fame, what would other baseball players and baseball enthusiasts think? We must not honor the fool. The reason is because it is not fitting in God’s perspective.
Last time, as a guest speaker pastor said during the “Sola Scriptura” (Only the Word)” history background seminar, he mentioned a pastor's desire for honor in a large Korean church. But we should not be so greedy for that kind of honor. We must be on the lookout for and guard against greed for honor. We must be on guard against greed for honor, but we must seek the right honor. What is the right honor? The desire for honor within us is a gift from God with appetite, sleep, and libido, and etc. Therefore, if our purpose is to acknowledge God as God, and what we do is to be good in God's sight, and if the method we use is the right method, and the result is to glorify God and to edify our neighbors, our desire for honor is just and desirable (Ref: Deut. 26:19-19). We must “honor” the man of God who humbly lives for the Lord with this just and desirable desire for honor.
I saw an article posted on the internet Facebook last week. It seemed like I had seen a similar article on some internet news before. But since I couldn't think of it I read it all. After reading it all, the thought that came to my mind was 'These are very valuable people. They are very respectable people. I thought I should imitate them too.' They are Marian (71) and Margaret (70), foreign nuns who have been caring for leprosy patients for 43 years in Sorokdo, Doyang-eup, Goheung-gun, Jeollanam-do, Korea. Sister Marian applied medicine to the wounds of patients without gloves for about 43 years after first stepping on Sorok Island in 1959, and Sister Margaret in 1962. It is said that they were devoted to childcare and self-sufficiency, such as running a nursery school for children. After 43 years of dedication, these two people, who became 70 people, left a letter titled ‘To my beloved friends and benefactors’ in the early morning without any knowledge, leaving Sorok Island and leaving their homeland for Austria. In the letter, they said, ‘We have been telling our colleagues that we have to leave before putting pressure on our place because we are unable to work properly, and now we thought it was time to put it into practice.’ They also said, ‘As foreigners who lack many things, we are grateful for our great love and respect and forgive us for hurting your hearts with our shortcomings.’ It is said that on the way home of the two nuns, only one of the tattered bags they brought when they came to Sorok Island. They left quietly in case it will be known to someone or that it will be a loud farewell ceremony. They said that the day they left Sorok Island by boat moving away from a distance, they cried with tears endlessly looking at the islands and thinking about the people of Sorok Island. In front of their visits, it is said that the words that they had kept in their hearts all their lives are written in Korean: 'Be a good and humble person' (Internet). Isn't the honor suitable for these people? Shouldn't we honor these people?
Second, the fool’s curse without cause does not alight.
Have you ever just hated someone for no particular reason? Have you ever hated that person for no reason, knowing that he had done nothing wrong to you? If not, have you ever been hated by someone for no reason? Reading the Book of Psalms we can see that the psalmist was hated for no reason. Look at Psalms 69:4 – “Those who hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head; Those who would destroy me are powerful, being wrongfully my enemies; What I did not steal, I then have to restore.” Also, look at Psalms 38:19 – “But my enemies are vigorous and strong, And many are those who hate me wrongfully.” The prophet Jeremiah was also hated by his enemies for no reason (Lam. 3:52).
If we look at Proverbs 26:2, the Bible speaks of “a curse without cause”. Look at Proverbs 26:2 – “Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, So a curse without cause does not alight.” Of course, in verse 2, the word “a fool” doesn’t appear. But the verses 1 and 3 say “a fool”. So he who curses without cause in verse 2 refers to the fool and not the wise. Think about it. When the fool curses someone without cause, is that curse objectively fair? It can never be. That curse must be an unjust curse. The Bible tells us that the unjust curse of the fool is like “a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying” (v. 2). What does it mean? The sparrow's “flitting” here is because it is “aimless”. That is why the sparrow that is flitting in the sky without purpose is just hovering in the air, not knowing where to land. The curse with cause is like that. In other words, having no purpose symbolizes the failure of the curse. So, in verse 2, the Bible says that the curse without cause will not happen. In other words, the unjust curse will not be fulfilled. For example, Goliath cursed David in the name of the Philistine gods (1 Sam. 17:43-44), but David triumphed (vv. 48-50). What should we do if the fool hate us without cause and curse and persecute us? We must pray to God. And we must meditate on God’s instruction (word). Look at Psalms 119:78 – “May the arrogant be ashamed, for they subvert me with a lie; But I shall meditate on Your precepts.” The psalmist prayed to God to shame the arrogant ones who subverted him with a lie. But he determined to meditate on God’s word. What’s the reason? Why did the psalmist determine to pray and to meditate on God’s precepts when the arrogants subverted him without cause? Look at Psalms 119:86, 161: “All Your commandments are faithful; They have persecuted me with a lie; help me! … Princes persecute me without cause, But my heart stands in awe of Your words.” The reason is because he trusted the commandments of the Lord, and feared His words, not those who were in power. We, like the psalmist, must determine to meditate on the word of the Lord and to pray to God, even if someone makes us hard, condemns us, and even curses us for no reason. And I hope and pray that we can actually put it into action what we have determined to do.
When I meditate on “a curse without cause” in Proverbs 26:2, I came to think of Jesus crucified, the tree of curse (Deut. 21:23). From the Jewish point of view at the time, Jesus of Nazareth claimed to be the Son of God and was cursed by God for blasphemy (Mt. 26:65) and was crucified. However, the reason Jesus, the Son of the true God, died on the cross, the tree of curse, was to forgive all our sins and save us, who supposed to be cursed forever and had to be destroyed forever. We have full reason to be cursed, but Jesus took all our sins for us and died on the cross, even though He had no sin to die on the tree of curse. The reason was because the Lord restored the curse upon us and gave us the blessing of eternal life (Deut. 23:5, Neh. 13:2, Eph. 1:3ff). How are we to live with this blessing of eternal life and all spiritual blessings? As disciples of Jesus, we must be silently obedient to the word of the Lord and fulfill the mission we have been given, even if we are accused, cursed, and cursed without cause. In order for us to do that, we must pray to the God we trust and meditate on the word of God we trust. However, if we are accused, reproached, and even committed a sin that deserves a curse, we must hear the curse as David did (2 Sam. 16:5ff.). When David was running away from his son Absalom, who had been rebellious as a result of his sin, even when Shimei, a member of the tribe of Benjamin, cursed him, he heard all of the curse by saying, “Leave him alone; let him curse, for the LORD has told him to” (16:5ff). And when he heard all the sound of the curse, he believed that God would see his distress and would repay him with good for the cursing (v. 12). With this belief, I hope and pray that we can hear all the curses with cause or without cause. God will surely repay us for good.
Third, there is a rod for the back of the fool.
Not long ago, when I watched Korean news, there was a scene in France where a mother beats her child in a public service ad against corporal punishment. Perhaps the child was hit because he poured a drink on the table, or was noisy. At that time, the focus of the news was that there was a heated debate from country to country over whether corporal punishment was banned by law in Europe these days. It is said that the European Council, Europe's top human rights watchdog, sent a warning to France when France already signed the European Social Charter, which promised to protect children, but didn’t prohibit corporal punishment by law. Among the 47 member states of the European Council, 27 countries such as Sweden and Germany have banned corporal punishment, but France and the United Kingdom are said to tolerate corporal punishment. It is said that Pope Francesco also added to the controversy over corporal punishment. He said that proper corporal punishment is necessary, citing the case of a father who hits a child, but never hits his face (Internet).
What do you think? Do you think proper corporal punishment is necessary in raising children? In Korea, corporal punishment of parents is so severe that more than 8 out of 10 cases of child abuse occur in the home. So it seems that the law banning corporal punishment against children by law has recently passed the National Assembly (Internet). I don't understand how seriously corporal punishment of parents in the home is. So it is a little bit unclear how more than 8 out of 10 cases of child abuse occur in the home. Maybe that's how the relationship between parents and children is a serious problem. I don't think child abuse should ever happen in the home. But I have a little doubt what is the definition of the word “child abuse” in the news these days. So, searching the Internet, I read that Article 3, No. 7 of the Child Welfare Act defined this: ‘Child abuse means that an adult, including a guardian, commits physical, mental, sexual violence or harsh behavior that may harm the health or welfare of a child under the age of 18, or impede the normal development, and the guardian of the child abandon or neglect the child’ (Internet). Not long ago, a famous American football player in the US CNN news appeared to be corporal punishment for his child, which became a big issue. At that time, while watching the news, it seems that the father disciplined his child at home and I was wondering why the news made it big deal out of it. However, I thought that we are now in an era of legal restraint even from loving and disciplining children because of real child abuse parents.
In discipling a child, I relate to what Pastor Tedd Tripp said in his book “Shepherding a Child's Heart” in two ways: (1) Rich, full communication and (2) The rod. Of course, when we say that we raise our children with the Lord’s “discipline”, we mean putting conversations ahead of the rod. I think these two things should go hand in hand in raising children. In particular, I think that as parent, we should they prioritize conversation with our children. But when they continue to disobey without repenting, then we should discipline them with the rod (when they are young). The reason is because of the words of Hebrews 12:6 – “because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.” Also, look at Proverbs 13:24 – “He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.” These verses tell us that we must faithfully discipline our beloved children.
If we look at Proverbs 26:3, the Bible says, “… And a rod for the back of fools.” In Proverbs 10:13, the Bible says, “… but a rod is for the back of him who lacks judgment.” What do these words mean? It mean that God rules the arrogant and stubborn ones (the fool) with punishment and disaster (Park). Why, then, does the Bible say that it is the rod on the back of the fool? One of the reasons is because the fool is proud. Look at Proverbs 14:3 – “In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them” (KJV). Another reason is because in order to correct the fool's foolishness, he must be disciplined with the rod. Look at Proverbs 22:15 – “Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.” The Bible says that in order to save the soul of the fool from death (Sheol, hell), he must be disciplined with the rod. Look at Proverbs 23:13-14: “Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.” Looking at these verses, we can see that fool needs discipline with the rod. This is a principle that applies not only to the relationship between parents and children, but also between us, God’s children, and our Heavenly Father. Look at Psalms 89:32 – “I will punish their sin with the rod, their iniquity with flogging.” When I meditate on this word, I remembered the word of Isaiah 10:5 that says that God used the kingdom of Assyria as God's rod of anger and as “the club of my wrath” in God's hand in chasing the sinful northern Israelites. Also, I remembered Jeremiah chapters 50-52 that God used Babylon as a rod of God's wrath and disciplined Judah. Eventually, Assyrian or Babylon became foolish and proud before God (Isa. 10:12-16, 14:24-25; Jer. 50:29), so God broke the rod and judged them.
When we don’t confess, repent, and turn back even after we have committed foolish sins, God disciplines us with the rod of love. Therefore, God casts out our foolishness far away (Prov. 22:15), makes us humble (14:3), and gives us wisdom (29:15). Look at Proverbs 29:15 – “The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.” Therefore, when we are disciplined by God, first we must not be discouraged (Hebrews 12:5). Rather, we should thank God. The reason is because God disciplines us because he loves us (v. 6) and treats us as His children (v. 7). And God is discipling us for our good (v. 10). Although no discipline seems pleasant at that time, later on it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for us who have been trained by it (v. 11).
Fourth, we should not answer the fool according to his folly.
Have you ever spoken to a proud and hard-hearted person? If you have never spoken, please think about it. Do you think that if you talk to someone who is proud and hard-hearted, you will be able to talk? I don’t think so. In particular, even if we teach right lessons to the proud and hard-hearted person and even rebuke with love, that person will not listen to us and will be angry at us. What is the reason? Why do you think we can't talk to someone who is proud and hard-hearted? The reason is because the way of the fool is right in his own eyes (Prov. 12:15). That is, he doesn’t “receive commandments” (10:8) because he is wise in his own eyes (26:12). Rather, the fool despises wisdom and discipline (1:7). Actually, when I see myself, I see myself being foolish and don’t listen to anyone's words when my heart is proud and hardened. Even at such times, I see myself not listening to the words of my seniors of faith whom I admire. Likewise, there are times when I think that I should say what is right and what the Bible says to someone who thinks he is right and that his actions are correct, I don't say it because I think that person will not listen to me. What does the Bible say we should do in this case?
We should not answer the fool according to his folly. Look at Proverbs 26:4-5: “Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Or you will also be like him. Answer a fool as his folly deserves, That he not be wise in his own eyes.” From these two verses, King Solomon seems to be speaking contradictory words. In other words, it seems to contradict each other because verse 4 says, “Do not answer” the fool according to his folly, and verse 5 says, “Answer” the fool as his folly deserves. But this teaches us two wise attitudes about how to deal with the fool.
(1) It is silence.
When a fool speaks to us, it can be wise for us to remain silent without answering. Look at Proverbs 26:4 – “Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Or you will also be like him.” How should we react if the other person speaks words that distort the truth? Imagine that person believes the distorted words as truth and is even convinced, and tells us those words. How should we react? If we say 'Yes, you're right', then we are answering that person according to his folly. And we are joining his folly. What if we say something like 'No, you are wrong’ to him? How would the foolish person react? Won’t he get angry? Will he be able to understand? That is why the Bible says, “Do not answer a fool according to his folly” (v. 4). At that time, it is wiser for us to be silent.
(2) When a fool speaks ignorant as a cause of ignorance, we must teach by answering him for his salvation.
Look at Proverbs 26:5 – “Answer a fool as his folly deserves, That he not be wise in his own eyes.” What if, when the fool speaks foolish things, we don’t remain silent and answer according to his folly? The Bible says that the fool considers himself wise. This is the serious problem of the fool. That serious problem is that he is wise in is own eyes (v. 5). This is truly ignorant and evidence that his soul is very dark. To such a person, we must teach the words of the light of the Lord to save his darkened soul with compassion. In John 18:19-24, Jesus also spoke “the truth” to the spiritually ignorant and darkened high priest (v. 23). At that time, one of the officials nearby struck Him in the face (v. 22). In this way, because Jesus spoke the truth to the spiritually ignorant and darkened high priest, he was struck by that official who was nearby (v. 23). Therefore, we, disciples of Jesus, should also speak “the truth” to fools who are ignorant and spiritually darkened. We should do so with compassionate heart for his soul, whether he will listen or not, for his salvation.
When I thought about being silent and speak the truth to the fool, I remembered Jesus' reaction when the high priests and the whole council looked for false evidence against him to kill him. First, many people came and gave false evidence against Jesus, but they didn’t find any. Finally, two people came forward and declared this (Mt.26:59-60): “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days’” (v. 61). Then the high priest stood up and said this to Jesus: “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” (v. 62) At that time, Jesus’ response was that he remained silent (v. 63). Not only at this time, but also in the presence of the governor of Pilate, when he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, Jesus “gave no answer” (27:12). At that time, Pilate asked Jesus, “Don't you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?” (v. 13) Even at that time, Jesus “made no reply, not even to a single charge” (v. 14). In this way, Jesus responded in silence before the foolish chief priests and the elders who falsely testified against Jesus. This response of Jesus has already been prophesied by the prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 53:7 – “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.” Then, when the high priest asked Jesus, “Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God” (Mt.26:63), Jesus said to them: “Yes, it is as you say … But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven” (v. 64). Jesus told the foolish high priest that he was the Christ, the Son of God, and taught that Jesus would sit at the right hand of Almighty God and that He would come again on the clouds of heaven. Then the high priest tore his clothes and said that Jesus had “spoken blasphemy” (v. 65). At that time, people cried out to the public assembly that Jesus “is worthy of death” (v. 66). The high priests and elders who accused Jesus before the governor Pilate cried out that Jesus should be crucified (27:22, 23). Then Pilate had Jesus flogged and handed him over to be crucified (v. 26). And after suffering Jesus was crucified to death (v. 35). May we, like Jesus, be silent when we should be silent and be able to speak when we should speak. In particular, we should be silent in front of the fool in order not to join in his folly. And we must preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to save the fool’s soul with compassion. May we all be able to do that.
Fifth, we should not send a message by the hand of the fool.
We've often seen on TV the soldiers who were amputated by bombs in the war in Iraq or in Afghanistan. For me, an unforgettable TV scene saw one man training each one of them, one man to help those soldiers, eventually conquering a high mountain. At that time, I was surprised to see six or seven soldiers who participated in the training program with amputations and prosthetic legs, both legs and one leg, being interviewed on TV, and I thought it was precious. The reason I was surprised is that even a person like me who has both legs intact would not be able to conquer such a high mountain in such a cold weather but they were doing it with their prosthetic legs. And as I watched the soldiers interviewing and so on, I thought that the one man who was doing this training program to help them was doing a really valuable work. It was really good to see that one man, was strengthening physically and mentally several soldiers with a leg amputated and prosthetic feet who could be in despair. As we know that these soldiers were sent by the US military to Iraq or Afghanistan and were forced to amputate because they undesirably lost their legs or injured while fighting. I am sure no one will ever have cut himself off because he doesn't want his leg. Rather, as American soldiers, they were loyal to fight and had to be amputated their legs because they were injured in a battle.
The Bible Proverbs 26:6 says, “He cuts off his own feet and drinks violence Who sends a message by the hand of a fool.” Who would try to cut off his own feet? If there is someone who does that, would we really think of that person as an intact person? Who would cut off his own foot only if he wasn't out of his mind? However, in Proverbs 26:6, the Bible says that sending a message by the hand of a fool is like cutting off his own feet. What does it mean? Why does the Bible say so? What if we cut our feet off ourselves? Can we really walk properly? No, isn't it? Think about it like this. If a postman who delivered mail on foot said he had no choice but to deliver the mail with one leg, would he be able to deliver the mail properly with one leg (without a prosthetic leg)? Now, the Bible says that it is so to bring the message by the hand of the fool. Not only that, it is said that it is like drinking violence (v. 6). The Korean Bible translated it “drinks poison” (v. 6). What if we drink poison ourselves? Won't we die? Doesn't it mean self-destruction? The Bible says that it's the same thing to send the message by the hand of the fool.
Who do you think of the fool who caused self-harm and self-destruction in the Bible? I remembered the man who told David that King Saul and his son Jonathan were dead. In 2 Samuel 1, we can see an Amalekite (v. 8) from the camp of Saul (Israel) who came to David and bowed down to the ground (v. 2), saying, “Saul and his son Jonathan are dead” (v. 4). At that time, David asked the young man who brought that message, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead”? (v. 5) At that time, the young man said that Saul said to him on Mount Gilboa (v. 6), ‘Kill me’ (v. 9), and he knew that King Saul could not survive, so he killed him and took the crown and the band on his arm and brought them to David (v. 10). When David heard the answer, he tore his clothes, and mourned and wept and fasted till evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, for the army of the Lord and the house of Israel because they had fallen by the sword (vv. 11-12). Then he said to the young Amalekites, “Why were you not afraid to lift your hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?” (v. 14) Then he called one of his men to go and strike him (v. 14). “So he struck him down, and he died” (v. 15). What do you think of this murdered Amalek young man? What do you think about him who weren’t afraid to kill King Saul, who was anointed by God, and who took off the crown on King Saul’s head and the band on his arm and brought them to David and told him that King Saul and his son Jonathan were dead? Don’t you think he is really fool? Perhaps the Amalekites thought that David would be happy if he killed King Saul and bring his crown and band to David. And seeing that he brought King Saul's crown and rings of arms to David, perhaps the Amalekites thought David was the next king of Israel. And maybe he expected a reward from David. One thing is for sure is that the Amalek young man brought the news that harmed himself and eventually killed him.
Another fools are found in 2 Samuel 4, who told the news of self-harm and self-destruction. They were Recab and Baanan, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, who struck down Saul's fourth son, Ishbosheth, and cut off his nect, and brough it to David (v. 5). Rechab and his brother Baanan pretended to get some wheat went into the inner part of the Ishbosheth's house, killed Ishbosheth, who was taking his noonday rest, and cut off his head (vv. 5-7). And they fled all night on the road to the Arabah (v. 6), arrived at Hebron, and gave King David the head of Ishbosheth and said, “"Here is the head of Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, your enemy, who tried to take your life. This day the LORD has avenged my lord the king against Saul and his offspring” (v. 8). What was David’s response at that time? Look at verses 9-11: “… As surely as the LORD lives, who has delivered me out of all trouble, when a man told me, 'Saul is dead,' and thought he was bringing good news, I seized him and put him to death in Ziklag. That was the reward I gave him for his news! How much more--when wicked men have killed an innocent man in his own house and on his own bed--should I not now demand his blood from your hand and rid the earth of you!” “So David gave an order to his men, and they killed them. They cut off their hands and feet and hung the bodies by the pool in Hebron” (v. 12). This was the ending of Rekab and his brother Baanan, the foolish men who was mistaken for speaking the good news to King David. They digged their own graves. They didn’t know that it was self-harming and self-destructing themselves by misunderstanding that it was good news to deliver to King David.
When I was meditating on these words, I thought, 'What would happen if the church asked the fool to go and preach the good news of Jesus Christ to the world?' What do you think? Will it really help the church of Christ, or will it be self-harming? Wouldn't it be self-harming? In a way, I think that the church of Christ is doing this foolish thing to itself, that is harming itself. In other words, we Christians now go out into the world and don’t play the role of light and salt. Rather, under the influence of the dark world, we sinned against God, lost the taste of the salt and unable to shoe the power and influence of the gospel to the world. It is inevitable to harm the church by ourselves when we go out and preach the good news of Jesus Christ, the gospel, to this world. What is the cause? It is because we have become simple. How can we know this? Look at Psalms 19:7 – “The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.” The proof that we have become simple is that we don’t love God's trustworthy word, the perfect word, and don’t listen to it, learn from it and meditate on it day and night and thus become wise. In other words, the evidence that we have become simple (or fool) is that we don’t love God's word and don’t meditate on it day and night. We must love and yearn for His word and meditate on it day and night. In the midst of that, we must pray in faith for wisdom to God. Therefore, we must go to this world with the wisdom that God gives us and preach the good news of Jesus Christ, the gospel. The Bible Romans 10:15 says about the feet of those who wisely go to this world and preach the gospel: “… How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
Sixth, a proverb that comes out of the mouths of the fool is powerless and dangerous.
Who is the person in the Bible with both feet crippled? It is Mephibosheth, son of Jonathan and grandson of Saul in 2 Samuel 9. It was David who showed kindness to Mephibosheth (vv. 1, 7). How did David show kindness to him? David gave Mephibosheth all the fields of his grandfather Saul back to him, and made him always to eat at King David's table regularly (vv. 7, 11, 13). In other words, David made Mephibosheth, Jonathan's son, whose both feet were crippled, to always eat on his table like one of the king’s sons (vv. 11, 13). Until now, reading this Bible passage, I wasn’t sure how much David showed kindness to Mephibosheth by allowing him to eat on his table, like one of the princes. However, when I meditated on 2 Samuel 5:8, I understood a little: “… Whoever would strike the Jebusites, let him reach the lame and the blind, who are hated by David's soul, through the water tunnel. Therefore they say, ‘The blind or the lame shall not come into the house.’” Obviously, looking at this word, David's heart hated the lame and the blind. But King David made Mephibosheth to eat on his table regularly like one of the princes (9:11, 13). This was David's great kindness to Mephibosheth, the two-legged crippled man. Then, why did David show great kindness to Mephibosheth? He did so because he made the covenant with Jonathan who loved David as his own life (1 Sam. 18:3, 20:16-17). And because Jonathan’s love to David “was more wonderful Than the love of women” (2 Sam 1:26), David wanted to be faithful in fulfilling the responsibility of the covenant made with Jonathan. That was why David showed kindness to Mephibosheth, son of Jonathan. However, while meditating on the word of God's covenant with David in 2 Samuel 7, the ultimate reason that David showed kindness to Mephibosheth seems to be because David already received God’s great (v. 21) lovingkindness (v. 15) that He promised to him. d
In Proverbs 26:7, the Bible says, “Like the legs which are useless to the lame. When we meditate on this word, doesn’t it remind us verse 6 that we have already meditated on? Looking back at verse 6, the Bible says that the sending of the message by the hand of the fool is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking violence. It wouldn't be the case if it was in the right spirit that a person cut off his own feet. Also, if he did such a terrible thing while he was out of his mind, that person could no longer walk properly. As such, it is out of mind to deliver the message by the hand of the fool. It is a terrible thing to do, and the message will not be delivered properly. After saying this, the Bible says, “Like a lame man's legs that hang limp is a proverb in the mouth of a fool” (v. 7).
If we are lame, are our limp legs useful? Can we use those powerless legs to walk and run? The point that the Bible is trying to make is that the proverb of the fool is useless, just as the lame’s legs are useless. Why is the proverb of the fool is useless? It is because the fool’s proverb is fool. Think about it. Isn't it funny that the fool tells the proverb? What do you think is the word that the fool opens his mouth to teach and instruct? Will it be wise teaching and instruction? I think it doesn’t make sense that the fool considers himself wise and teaches and instructs others since he doesn’t know that he is a fool. When the fool doesn’t know when, where, or how to apply the instruction himself, is his proverb powerful when he teaches that to others? Would it be useful? The proverb that comes out of the mouth of the fool who can't apply it to himself is bound to be powerless and useless. Isn't it? If a wise person applies a proverb in his own life and then tells it to us, isn't that proverb useful to us?
In Proverbs 26:9, the Bible again speaks of “a proverb in the mouth of a fool.” The Bible says, “Like a thorn bush in a drunkard's hand is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.” Imagine a drunkard holding a thorn in his hand. What do you think? A little different question, what do you think if the drunkard had a knife in his hand? Don’t you think it is dangerous? Not only that, but if the drunkard has a thorn in his hand, he may stumble and stab himself in the thorn. Wouldn’t it hurt if he is stabbed by a thorn? In this way, the proverb in the mouth of the fool can cause pain and can be dangerous not only to the fool himself, but also to those who hear the proverb coming out of his mouth. The reason is because the fool can misapply and distort the proverb (MacDonald).
There seem to be so many Christians who distort God's word and receive it wrongly and apply it. In particular, it seems that among those who are deeply interested in spiritual interests and yearn for His word, many people who misunderstand, apply, and distort the word of God and cause fatal harm to their own spiritual life. However, what is taken seriously is that these people open their mouths to teach distorted teachings to many people, so they also do the fatal harm to their spiritual life. That is why we must be spiritually awake. We must have spiritual sensitivity, and must sharpen our spiritual sensitivity more and more with His word and prayer. Therefore, with spiritual discernment, we must be able to discern the proverb of the fool and the proverb of the wise. And we must walk with the wise as Proverbs 13:20 says. In doing so, we grow wise. “Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning” (9:9).
Seventh, we should not hire the fool.
As you may know, Korean archery is good enough to recognize it all over the world. In particular, women's archery is said to have won gold medals in individual and group competitions from the 1984 Olympics to the 2004 Olympics. To what extent Korean archery players are good at, it is said that the arrows shot by Korean archery players in some Olympics smashed the camera installed in the center of the target (Internet). What would happen if a archery player with that skill level shoot at random people passing by?
In Proverbs 26:10, the Bible says that if a person hires a fool or a passerby is like an archer who shoots a bow at random and hurts people. It is said that hiring such a fool or a passerby is fatal. Who wants to be shoot by an archer who shoots a bow randomly? I am sure no one. Everybody will try to avoid getting hit by the arrow. Here we can understand a little that hiring the fool is fatal. As we learned in verse 6, sending the message by the hand of the fool is as deadly as cutting off one's legs and drinking violence or poison on one's own. Sending the message by the hand of the fool or hiring the fool is a fatal thing that hurts oneself. So when people are trying to hire someone from any organization, don't they ask people to write an application and a resume? Then, wouldn't the person in charge of hiring a person at that organization decide whether or not to hire this person by looking at the application and resume of the person who applied for the organization? The same goes for the church. When a person writes his resume, the session of the church or the call committee will see it. And if they are interested, he will be interviewed. Why do they do that? The reason for doing so is because when one wrong person comes to church, he can cause great harm to the church. I still remember that several years ago, few elders came to our church from east coast. The reason they came to see me was because they wanted to find out about my friend pastor who lived here in Southern California, and who applied for a senior pastor position of their church. So they flew from the east coast all the way to California to meet me to find out more about him. To that extent, some churches are careful when they try to invite new pastors to their churches. But can you imagine the church invitation committee wants to invite anybody who just passes by the road if he is a pastor? If so, what will happen to that church? Wouldn't it become the broken church?
I read it again because I remembered that I meditated on the words of Judges 17:1-2 and 18:19 in March 2011 under the heading of “The broken family, the broken church.’ Here, “The broken family” refers to the house of a man named Micah. And “The broken church” refers to the Dan tribe. The reason I said that Micah's family was a broken family was because Micah's mother wanted Micah to be blessed even though her son stole 1,100 of her silver and returned it to her for fear of being cursed by her mother (17:2). How could the mother bless her son who stole her money? Shouldn’t she rebuke him? I can’t understand Micah’s mother. What is more difficult to understand is that the Micah's mother, who dedicated the silver that she received her son to the Lord for Micah, took 200 pieces of silver, gave them to the silversmith who made them into a graven image and a molten image, and then gave them to her son Micah (vv. 3-4). Does it make sense to you? How could the Micah’s mother do that? How could she, who blessed her son Micah, make an idol and give that to him? What she did was very absurd. How about your son Micah? He put the image and the idol in his house (v. 4). What is surprising is that Micah, who was blessed by her mother saying, “The Lord bless you, my son!”(v. 2) even had a shrine or house of gods (v. 5). Like this, both the mother and the son did whatever they saw fit. Isn’t this broken family? And there is a reason why I considered the tribe of Dan to be the broken tribe. Micah not only made the ephod worn by the high priest at his own will, but he also had some idols (v. 5). He also consecrated one of his sons, that he might become his priest (v. 5). He did what was right in his own eyes (v. 6). When a young man from Bethlehem in Judah, who was a Levite, came to Micah’s house (vv. 7-8), Micah said to him, “Dwell with me and be a father and a priest to me, and I will give you ten pieces of silver a year, a suit of clothes, and your maintenance” (v. 10). Then since the Levite became his priest he said, “Now I know that the LORD will prosper me” (v.13). Then when the Danites sent five men who came to Laish, saw how people were living in the land (18:7) and returned to Zorah and Eshtaol (v. 8), went back and came to Micha’s house (vv. 13, 15) with 600 Danites who were armed for battle (v. 16). The five men who had spied out the land went inside and took the carved image, the ephod, the other household gods and the cast idols (v. 17) and asked the young Levite priest, “Come with us, and be our father and priest. Isn't it better that you serve a tribe and clan in Israel as priest rather than just one man's household?” (v. 19) “Then the priest was glad. He took the ephod, the other household gods and the carved image and went along with the people” (v. 20). As a result, the tribe of Dan worshipped idols. It was the broken tribe.
I think this is what many churches look like today. First, I think the problem is us, the pastors. In particular, I think one of the big problems is the people who are not qualified to become a pastor. When I think about why this is happening, I think the problem is that the seminaries are accepting people who are not properly verified. Even worse, I think they are ghost seminaries. I think these seminaries allow people with too little qualifications to enter the seminary under financial pressure for the purpose of gaining money from them in order to run the seminaries. That was what Jeroboham, king of northern Israel, did. He “appointed priests for the high places from all sorts of people. Anyone who wanted to become a priest he consecrated for the high places” (1 Kgs.13:33). Likewise, I am concerned that many seminaries are asking anyone to apply for the schools by taking some kinds of easy exams and are admitting them to the seminaries.
The Bible Proverbs 26:10 says, “Like an archer who wounds at random is he who hires a fool or any passer-by.” What does it mean? This means that anyone who hires the fool or a passerby will surely harm others. It’s like an archer who shoots a bow at random and hurts people. That's why it is fatal to hire anyone without knowing the qualifications of foolish people and workers (Park). What would happen to the company if those sitting high in the company hired fools or passers-by? What will happen to the church and the members if the invitation or calling committee calls the foolish pastor as the senior pastor in the church? Dr. Yoon-sun Park said four things about the foolish pastor based on Proverbs 26:6-10: (1) The foolish pastor doesn’t know God (Ps. 14:1). Such foolish pastor who doesn’t know God doesn’t receive inspiration and only thinks of human and mechanical knowledge. (2) The foolish pastor takes sin lightly (Prov. 14:9). He who takes sin lightly in this way doesn’t resist sin until he sheds blood (Heb. 12:4). (3) The foolish pastor doesn’t like to be reproved (1:20-33). The Bible values reproof, but the foolish pastor doesn’t value it (Ref. 27:5-6). (4) The foolish pastor doesn’t prepare for the soul (afterlife) (Lk. 12:16-21). The only thing the foolish pastor wants in Christ is this earthly life (1 Cor. 15:19) (Park). The book of Proverbs repeatedly says that this fool is subject to discipline: “Penalties are prepared for mockers, and beatings for the backs of fools” (Prov. 19:29); “A whip for the horse, a halter for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!” (26:3)
Internet Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has revealed only one principle when hiring employees. He says “I will only hire someone to work directly for me”. ‘The most important thing is to make the team as small as possible,’ he said. He explains, ‘Facebook serves billions of people around the world, but our team is under 10,000.’ He said, ‘This is possible thanks to modern technology,’ and that ‘big companies are bubbling’ (Internet). If you are an employer for a company, how would you apply Proverbs 26:10 in hiring people? I thought about two things: (1) When we hire a person, we need to do it as thoroughly as possible. Even if we have been introduced through someone we know, even if we know the person we recommend, we should carefully examine and check the applicant. (2) We should not hire the fool. Rather, we must hire the wise. He who fears God, obeys His word, is true and faithful in character, etc. should be hired.
Eighth, the fool repeats his folly.
Have you seen a dog eat back its vomit? Isn't it a little disgusting just to imagine? I never remember seeing the dog eat back that vomit, but I've seen a dog eat poop. When you think of such dog, don't you think such dog is a foolish dog? Likewise, how foolish in the sight of God is it that we repeatedly do foolish things? An example is the Israelites from the Old Testament Exodus and Judges. What they repeated over and over again was their blasphemy against Moses, a leader established by God, or even God and also disobedience to His word. How foolish does it look not only in God's eyes but also in our view of the Israelites who commit sins again and again? But don't you think this is who we are?
In Proverbs 26:11, the Bible says, ‘As a dog RETURNS from its vomit, so a fool REPEATS his folly.’ Here, Dr. Yoon-sun Park explained two reasons why the Bible refers to a fool as a dog-like person (Park):
(1) The fool refers not to the foolish one (the childish one) as we usually think of, but to the one who makes sin a job.
The fool we are talking about in today's text refers to a person who doesn’t feel any remorse in his conscience when he commits a sin. When we refer to such a person, we often say, ‘the person whose conscience is paralyzed.’ Look at 1 Timothy 4:2 – “Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.” So who does the Bible say that the conscience has been seared as with a hot iron or is paralyzed? The Bible says that “hypocritical liars” (v. 2). This foolish man is like a dog in that respect, because he doesn’t question impure things. Jesus said, "Do not give what is holy to dogs" (Mt.7:6), which also means that dogs don’t know what is holy.
(2) The fool refers to a stubborn person who continues to commit sin and not turn away from it.
The fool is a person who doesn’t repent. One example is Pharaoh, king of Egypt in the book of Exodus in the Old Testament. He seems to repent from time to time despite encountering the ten plagues, but he didn’t truly repent and hardened his heart. The Bible says that the fool, who hardens his heart so that he doesn’t leave his sins, doesn’t feel remorse in his conscience while continuing to commit the same sin, repeating his folly (Prov. 26:11). In addition to this, these words are written in the book of Proverbs: “the heart of fools blurts out folly” (12:23), “a fool displays folly” (13:16), “the folly of fools yields folly” (14:24), “the mouth of the fool gushes folly” (15:2), “the mouth of a fool feeds on folly” (v. 14) and “folly brings punishment to fools” (16:22).
What is the “folly” that the fool does over and over again? The Bible Proverbs 17:9 may be an example: “He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.” While the wise man seeks for love and will cover the offense of his friend, the fool separates his friend by saying it over and over again. Another example is Psalms 78:41 – “Again and again they put God to the test; they vexed the Holy One of Israel.” How did the Israelites test God again and again at the time of the Exodus? They sinned against God by distrusting Him, complaining (resentful) in dissatisfaction, and disobeying His word. This is the folly that the fool does over and over again. We must not test God again and again like the Israelites. We must not offend the holy God again and again (Ps.78:41). If we are foolish like the Israelites and try and anger God over and over again, do you know what God will do to us? Look at Jeremiah 25:4 – “And the LORD has sent to you all His servants the prophets again and again, but you have not listened nor inclined your ear to hear.” God sends us His servants “again and again”. God says to us again and again, “Turn now everyone from his evil way and from the evil of your deeds” (v. 5).
Our God is speaking to us again today (REPEATEDLY). We must listen to and obey God’s words that are spoken repeatedly. We must RETURN to God. And we must confess and abandon and REPENT our foolishness to God. We must not go back to our sinful habits. We must not do foolish things again. We must turn around and become wise, no longer repeating foolish things, but rather repeatedly doing the word of God.
Ninth and last, the fool is wise in his own eyes.
I still remember that a pastor came to my college campus once a week to lead a small group Bible and we had a Bible study with him in a apartment where one of the seniors used to live. At that time, while doing discipleship training and studying the Bible about the five convictions, I can't forget that I was taught Fact, Faith, and Feeling about the conviction of salvation. The reason is because at that time I was not sure of salvation based on the truthful word of God. Rather, at that time, I was led by my feelings in my Christian life, so there were many more times when I had no assurance of salvation. Another of the five convictions I learned at that time was the conviction of guidance. The Bible verse for the conviction of that guidance is Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” I have experienced a lot of time when I have learned this word and have been reminded of this word by the indwelling Holy Spirit as I have walked the journey of faith until now. At that time, I often enjoyed the grace of meditating on this word. But when I meditated on it, the part that pierced my conscience was the word, “lean not on your own understanding.” The same is true now.
On February 17, 2011, I gave a sermon at a Wednesday night prayer meeting under the title of ‘The wise man (1)’ centering on Proverbs 3:1-10. I searched on my blog what I wrote after I preached that word of God especially focused on Proverbs 3:5-6 and this is what I found: ‘The wise man who engraves and obeys God's command on the plate of his heart trusts God whom he loves with all his heart (Prov. 3:5-6). Here, to trust in God with all your heart means exclusive trust. This kind of trust is called “childish confidence” (Park). Believing in God like a child, and completely relying on God with a simple trust is to trust in God with all our hearts (Park). In order to trust God with this kind of trust, we must not rely on our understanding. The more we rely on our own understanding, the more we cannot trust God with the simple heart like the child.’ Then I preached about the words of Proverbs 3:7, which are written in the Bible like this: “Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.” And this is what I wrote: ‘When we rely on our own understanding, eventually we will consider ourselves wise. In particular, when we manage our work by relying on our own understanding and when that work goes well, then we often think that the work went well because we are wise. He who relies on his own understanding in this way considers himself wise. Therefore, King Solomon is telling us not to consider ourselves wise. How is this possible? This is possible when we fear God. When we fear God, we can turn away from evil that we consider ourselves wise (v. 7). If we don’t trust in God and don’t acknowledge Him in all things, it is evidence that we trust ourselves and acknowledge ourselves. This is also evidence that we are wise with ourselves. This is the vain belief of the fool who doesn’t fear God (14:16). And the cause of this vain belief that he believes himself to be wise is haughty in mind or is proud (Rom.12:16). What are proud? The reason is because we don’t know the Most High God intimately. When we don’t have the knowledge of our God, we consider ourselves wise (Prov.3:7) and pretend ourselves to be wise (Rom.12:16). When we fall into this arrogance, even though we know God, we neither glorify Him as God nor give thanks to him. But our thinking becomes futile and our foolish hearts are darkened. Although we claim to be wise, we become fools (1:21- 22). Therefore, we should not consider ourselves wise. Rather, we must turn away from evil because we fear God. As we fear God, we should not put our hearts in high places, but rather in low places. In a word, the wise man who fears God is humble. Because we fear God, we must turn away from evil and be humble. God will lift us up and use use us according to His will.
If we look at Proverbs 26:12, the Bible tells us this: “Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.” If this word is translated into the original Hebrew, it is as follows: ‘Do you see a man who considers himself wise with his own eyes? Have hope for he who is more foolish than him’ (Park). Why do we think 'I am wise' when we see ourselves with our own eyes? Why do we consider ourselves wise? Of course, the cause is pride. But I wondered where pride comes from. In other words, when we are proud, we look at ourselves with our proud eyes and consider ourselves wise. I thought about why do we come to that point. At that time, the word that came to mind is Romans 2:19-23: “if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of infants, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth – you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who brag about the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law?” Just like the Pharisees, we don’t teach ourselves with the word of God. Rather we disobey His word and like to teach others. That’s why we are proud and consider ourselves wise. It is very dangerous to believe in ourselves that we are wise. The reason is because not only will we never be taught the word of God, but we cannot.
There is no hope for those who believe in themselves as wise. That is why the Bible Proverbs 26:12 says, “Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.” How can there be hope for the fool? However, the Bible says that there is hope for the fool rather than he who considers himself wise. This means that those who consider themselves wise have no future or hope. However, those who have the wisdom that God gives will have a future hope and their hope will not be cut off (24:14). Therefore, let us not consider ourselves wise. Instead let us ask God for wisdom since God has promised, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him” (Jam. 1:5). And let us live with that God’s given wisdom. Then we will certainly have a future hope.