Based on Proverbs 26:1-12 (New King James Version)
“As snow in summer and rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool. Like a flitting sparrow, like a flying swallow, so a curse without cause shall not alight. A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the fool’s back. Do not answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like him. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes. He who sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence. Like the legs of the lame that hang limp is a proverb in the mouth of fools. Like one who binds a stone in a sling is he who gives honor to a fool. Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools. The great God who formed everything gives the fool his hire and the transgressor his wages. As a dog returns to his own vomit, so a fool repeats his folly. Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.”
Folly or the fool is mentioned a lot in this passage. It teaches that honor is not fitting for a fool. It says that the rod or punishment is for the fool. It says we should respond to a fool as his folly deserves. It warns that we should not trust our communication through a fool. It also says that a proverb or wise thought is of no use in the mouth of a fool, and that it is like thorns stuck or buried in the hand of a drunkard. And finally, it compares repeated foolishness to the vomit of a dog. Therefore, we should be able to understand from what is written that nothing good comes from foolishness. All foolishness is evil and even repulsive before God.
So, what defines a person as a fool? The Bible says this: “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, and have done abominable iniquity; there is none who does good. God looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there are any who understand, who seek God. Every one of them has turned aside; they have together become corrupt; there is none who does good, no, not one.” Psalm 53:1-3. So then, the fool is a person that believes in their heart that there is no God and the foolishness they commit as a result or as a product of their unbelief is evil. Note the following detail: “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” What is the importance in this? That at the center of the person, in their intimacy, hidden and invisible from others, this is what they truly believe. They might proclaim to have faith in God, and maybe not everything they do is foolishness or evil, but within themselves exists this unbelief. And this is what the Word says regarding that: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.” Jeremiah 17:9-10. People can try to deceive those around them, and even themselves, but it is impossible to deceive God because God sees and knows everything. And what importance does this have? That God, as the Owner and Lord of all, will one day judge every human being, without exception, both for what they do and for what they hold in their hearts. This is what the Word says: “Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:11-15. And for those that believe that Christians will not be judged, the Word says this: “Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men…” 2 Corinthians 5:9-11a. All of us, both unbeliever and believer, fool and wise, will be judged by our deeds and intentions. Why? Because God has established it so, no matter how much the fool may want to believe otherwise. God has decreed such a thing as responsibility because of the free will He has granted to man.
God teaches us that He is the One who establishes all authority on earth, as the authority He is, and therefore we must respect it, whether we like it or not, whether we agree or not, and whoever rebels against it is going against God Himself. It is written: “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.” Romans 13:1-7. Therefore, God views as foolish anyone who challenges authority. They may say, "The authorities are wrong," or "they are evil." And that may be so, but two wrongs don't make a right, and God will judge every person for what they do, regardless of the circumstances. Keep in mind that when Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, wrote this passage to the Romans, Caesar Nero was in power, one of the cruelest and most wicked emperors of the Roman Empire, who persecuted and killed many Christians. So, if God demanded respect for the authorities during such a reign, what would be left for us?
The bottom line is that God does exist, and He will judge all things in the end. Therefore, we should not have our eyes so fixed on this temporary, passing, and corrupt world. We should be wise and always think about the day of judgment that is coming very soon, and what God's opinion of us is. To avoid foolishness, we must follow this: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Proverbs 1:7. We all know that God exists and that we have no excuse to think otherwise, as it is also written: “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.” Romans 1:20. Therefore, hold fast to God's grace, repent from all your sins, believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as what He is: God; and seek to be found wise before Him, because in the end, you will be judged by Him. The wise seek to be approved by God, but the foolish bring upon themselves their own eternal condemnation. So, are you wise or are you a fool? Lord bless! John. God bless Israel!