Foolishness

Ah April Fool's Day. A day filled with rubber bands around the kitchen sink sprayer, doughnuts filled with mayonnaise rather than custard and the day when you find pickles in your peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

As today was approaching I was trying to think on some shenanigans to pull off but couldn't come up with anything really worthwhile but the word "fool" lingered in my mind and I began to ponder the thought of what God considers a fool to be, or what are foolish things in the eyes of God.

As I opened the Bible and began to study, I quickly realized that God has quite a bit to say about fools and foolishness. While I studied and read over the verses, 2 thoughts began to form in my mind so I thought I'd share them.

One of the most commonly quoted verses (especially on April 1st) is Psalm 14:1 "the fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. The verse continues say a fool is corrupt, have done abominable works and that there is none that doeth good.

Well, it doesn't sound like God is very pleased with fools, especially those who say there is no God. I have to admit that I agree completely with this criteria of a fool. Only a fool would think there is no God considering the fact that creation itself not only knows there is a God but also declares His existence. That's right! Just 5 chapters later in the book of Psalms you can find the first verse of chapter 19, "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork." That means that the trees, the flowers, the mountains, the clouds, the sky...they are all more intelligent than a fool.

The other thought/verse that came to mind was Proverbs 14:9 "Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favor."

It is very apparent in our society that sin is mocked. People think nothing of it. They dumb it down. Sin is sin and it is very serious. A lie is sin. Disobedience is sin. Fornication is sin. Just because many people do it doesn't make it right and it doesn't justify it. Sin comes with a payment - which is death (Romans 6:23) and will be judged by God, "So then every one of us shall give an account of himself to God." Romans 14:12.

One foolish man's judgment came much sooner than he thought. In Luke 12, there is a parable of the foolish man. He is a great example of how fools mock sin, think they have everything in control, and reject the idea that God is always in control.

"And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: and he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, 'Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years: take thine ease, eat, drink and be merry."

Sound familiar to the mind set of today? People constantly "upgrading" to the newest phone or car and building houses that are bigger and bigger and always striving to have the latest and greatest possessions. Well, the next verses show us God's mind set on having and storing up the "latest and greatest".

"But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."

I chose to not be foolish. I know God exists and I desire to be sure to declare His glory through my life. I also do not want to be foolish when it comes to sin. When I do sin, I go to God and confess it and get things right. I'd rather be rich toward God, than rich in the eyes of man.