The Fool

Today's readings are from Proverbs 10, 11, 12.

At the beginning of Proverbs 10 there is a shift in language. Now, instead of narratives of wisdom, individual pithy statements - Proverbs - begin to appear. One after another they extol some aspect of wise living. There is emphasis on speech, on greediness, on wise living, on marriage, etc... Each on can stand on its own and the context is limited to the immediate sentence.

One of the themes that repeatedly surfaces in these individual proverbs is the life of a "Fool". The Fool is not just someone who does a foolish thing. We all have had times where we did something that was foolish. The Fool is a person who lives without regard to wisdom in relation to God.
For example:

The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice. (Proverbs 12:15 NIV)

Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips and spreads slander is a fool. (Proverbs 10:18 NIV)

The prudent keep their knowledge to themselves, but a fool's heart blurts out folly. (Proverbs 12:23 NIV)

What is a Fool? We are warned by Jesus that to say "You fool" to someone without regard is to incur God's judgement. It is pretty obvious that God takes this designation rather seriously. A Fool is a person who lives without regard to what is life, wisdom, righteousness, to God. They don't listen to advice from God, or others.

How can we live in a way that defies this behavior? The scripture is "the way" that points us to a wise life..that's it.

Peace

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