“Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.” Proverbs 13:20
April Fool’s Day. How wonderful it would be if only one day of the year were reserved for fools. As it is, the world’s fools and their compulsive, foolish behaviors are featured and celebrated every minute of every day.
Communication and performance platforms abound, making instantaneous worldwide broadcasts of foolish proclamations or behaviors easy. For those who find foolishness entertaining, rest assured it is only a click away on your favorite social media platform or streamed network.
There was a time when foolishness was indulged or tolerated minimally in certain situations involving only certain subjects. It certainly was not normalized or applauded as it is today. Today, the more inappropriate the subject matter, the behavior, or the venue, the louder the applause and cries for an encore.
Foolishness has found more than a foothold in previously forbidden territories, like government, the halls of justice, and our churches. And it is not just foolish words. Foolishness is displayed in behaviors, attitudes, and intentional disregard for law, social norms, and Truth.
What I find particularly troubling is the reluctance of reasonable people, particularly believers, to call foolishness what it is for fear of being deemed mean, judgmental, prejudiced, bigoted, evil, or ostracized. So, instead, we stay silent, allowing what is foolish to become normalized, resulting in it being called insightful, cutting-edge, and even wise.
Scripture has much to say about fools, the foolish, foolishness, the simple, folly, and even the stupid. And friend, I tell you that nothing said is flattering or even close to good.
In Proverbs 10 (vs.8,10,13-14,21,23), King Solomon draws stark contrasts between the ways of the foolishly wicked person and the behavior of the wise, godly person. Here are a few excerpts from that chapter:
| The Wise Person | The Fool |
| The wise in heart receives and accepts instruction. | A babbling fool will come to ruin. |
| Wisdom is on the lips of the one who has understanding. | Punishment comes to the one who lacks sense. |
| The wise store up knowledge. | The mouth of the fool brings ruin near. |
| The lips of the righteous nurture many. | Fools die for lack of sense. |
| Wisdom is a pleasure to a man of understanding. | Doing wrong is like a joke to a fool. |
In today’s world, where is the voice of wisdom? Is there no platform for the wise?
Every day, we are to walk in wisdom.
Believers, we are to be living, walking platforms of wisdom.
Let’s choose to act in wisdom. Let’s not participate in championing or supporting those who present themselves as fools. Let’s not waste our time, attention, and resources on the valueless distractions of the world’s foolishness.
We can walk in wisdom without being mean, judgmental, prejudiced, bigoted, or evil. Wisdom-walkers speak the Truth in kindness, gentleness, and love.
Wisdom-walkers know when to speak and when to remain silent.
“A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.” Proverbs 29:11 ESV
Wisdom-walkers will not sacrifice the Truth on the altars of expedience, fear of rejection, or being out of sync with society’s new “norms.”
“The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious and adds persuasiveness to his lips.” Proverbs 16:23
Walk in Wisdom.
Speak Truth.
“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise.” Ephesians 5:15