HOW TO DEAL WITH FOOLS!

HOW TO DEAL WITH FOOLS!

Prov 26:4-5

4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.

5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.

          There is an apparent contradiction between these two verses but it is only apparent. Here we see two sides of the same truth. Verse four warns us not to bandy (to trade punches) words with a fool. Verse five reminds us to use the right words at the right time so as to draw the fool out of his foolishness. An unchallenged fool soon becomes conceited in his foolishness. He thinks he is right and must, skillfully, be shown the error of his thinking. This is a learned ability and requires some practice. It is more about style than substance.

          Jesus often kept silent when foolish and disrespectful questions were asked of him but silence is not always the best in every case. When asked to rule on the woman taken in adultery, he said nothing but stooped to write in the dust with his finger. When he finally did speak he asked those who were without sin to cast the first stone. They all retreated leaving the woman alone with Jesus. (John 8:9-11)

          I’m going to give up a trade secret among ministers this morning! There are times when we get sick and tired of being “nice.” We get tired-to-death of restraining ourselves from giving certain individuals a valuable piece of our mind because they seem not to have much of a mind themselves. We grow morbidly weary of being called upon to pray some magic little prayer that will eliminate the consequences of their stupidity. How we sometimes envy those whose task in life is to stand in some assembly line and unendingly attach some widget to some gadget. Perhaps this is why the majority of ministers resist the call to such a life. Nevertheless we press ahead armed with words seasoned with salt! (Col. 4:6)

2 Tim 2:23-25

23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.

24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,

25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

          The Amplified Bible shines some light on verse 25 by saying it this way: “He must correct his opponents with courtesy and gentleness, in the hope that God may grant that they will repent and come to know the Truth.”

Dear Lord, let me be patient with people whose minds have been made foolish by the Devil, knowing that I was once as foolish myself. AMEN