April Fool's

Love you all, praying for you. 

This one’s a little longer, but I pray that you will listen, and let the Holy Spirit give you discernment, and lead you in the way you should go.  I just love God’s Word.  It tells you the truth.  It gives instruction and warning, it defines Godliness and ungodliness, by the One who determines it; character or lack thereof, by the One who decides it; wisdom and folly by the One who defines it.   I rarely get this personal, but I think these things are important to character, and I’m asking the Holy Spirit to help you sift, and praying for you, that you will choose His ways, and His best, always.  I’ve never liked April Fool’s day.  Even as a child it always made me uncomfortable, so I didn’t participate.  I didn’t perpetuate it and by God’s grace even at a young age was not prone to gullibility nor easily deceived.   Well, it’s just having fun.  By whose definition?  Yours?  At whose expense?  I appreciate the value of humor, but only if everyone benefits.  The best comedians are self-deprecating.  Anyone can be a “you know what”-hole.  There is true humor, and cheap imitation – lacking decorum or basic intelligence.  April Fool’s has always made me feel uncomfortable.  Perhaps it’s the man in me, that seeks to protect the weak.  I just never felt comfortable intentionally misleading people in an attempt to deceive, fool or embarrass them.  I was taught to circumvent embarrassment for others.  To step in, divert attention away from them even at risk to myself in order to protect them, to save them potential embarrassment or shame, whether a family member, best friend or even a stranger.  So I never liked April Fool’s.  Lying or deceiving for a joke, was never really funny to me.  I’ve always had a deep disdain for people who intentionally make fun of others.  Humor at other people’s expense – to me is not humor, it’s weakness, and bullying.  Bullies are always weak.  They only bully those they have advantage over.  They don’t pick on people their own size – whether physically or intellectually.  Like the comedian who can’t do a set without cuss words or sex jokes.  That’s not funny, anyone can be vulgar, it takes no intelligence or talent.  It exposes you as uncreative, unintelligent, unseemly, and unfunny.  Like the husband or boyfriend that makes fun of their own wife or girlfriend - in public.  God said treasure your wife as you would your own body.  You are one, she’s a part of you!  And some guys will embarrass their own wife, for a cheap laugh from people that don’t love them, or even care about them.  Just wait till hard times come.  All those who laugh at your predatory jokes which by far expose your lack of character above any shortfall your wife may have, these fair weathered so called friends will be long gone, nowhere to be found. And you prefer them over your own wife?  You, sir, are the idiom. (To borrow from Steve Martin).  I have zero respect for men who do that to their spouse.  And not just men, if women will diss their own husband or boyfriend in public, it’s disrespectful, a disgrace, they are not worth keeping.  God said build one another up, don’t tear down.  Protect the weaker vessels of the body – they are worthy of special honor. (I Cor 12:21-23) It’s a character thing, and a Kingdom thing.   I pray you never dishonor anyone. (Proverbs 26:18-19)  Like the fool who says “I was only joking.”  You’ve defined yourself – by God’s definition.  I pray you will seek God on this and decide what will define you in this area.  So what might God have for us to know – on April Fool’s Day?  While it’s never mentioned, He does say some things about fools.  You can study them all, but there are some overarching definitions that are good to know, so you’re aware, so you can conduct yourself with honor.   What is a fool?  The opposite of the wise.  Of all the things God says about the difference between the two, there is a short list that would bear remembering.  #1 What you say about God makes you wise or a fool - Psalms 14:1 – The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”  They are corrupt, their deeds are evil, not one of them does good.  #2 The fool tears down, the wise build up.  Proverbs 14:1 – The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish woman tears hers down.  A little humility is all that is required to realize, this fully applies to men and women.  The picture of tearing down your house with your hands, really refers to your words.  They will either build up or tear down.  No honorable man or women berates or tears down their spouse, they are tearing down their own house.  Speak life!  Ephesians 4:29 – Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.  #3 – The wise welcome instruction, but fools would rather talk than listen.  Proverbs 18:2 - A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing their own opinions.  Proverbs 15:5 – A fool despises his father’s instruction, but whoever heeds correction is wise.  Proverbs 10:8 – The wise in heart welcome instruction (they accept commands) but a chattering fool falls flat on their face (comes to ruin). Proverb 29:20 – Do you see someone who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for him.  #4 – Fools slander others.   Proverbs 10:18 – Hiding hatred makes you a liar, slandering others makes you a fool.  Don’t say things that diminish someone’s reputation in the eyes of others.  True or untrue, if it steals their reputation, it’s slander, don’t say it.  #5 – Fools always think they’re right.  Proverbs 12:15 – The way of the fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to counsel.  Proverbs 28:26 - Those who trust in themselves are fools, but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe.  #6 - Fools Vent – they can’t hold their tongue, and they are easily angered.  Proverbs 29:11 – A fool vents all his feelings (uttereth all his mind), but a wise person has self-control, and holds it in check.  Proverbs 12:16 -  A fool is quick-tempered (a fool shows his annoyance at once), but a wise person overlooks an insult, (stays calm when insulted).  Proverbs 14:16 – The wise man fears God, and turns from evil, but the fool is easily angered and overconfident.  James 1:19-20 - Every one of you should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry, for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Proverbs 18:6 – The lips of a fool cause arguments, and his mouth invites a beating.  Proverb 27:3 – Stone is heavy and sand a burden, but the provocation of a fool is heavier than both.  Proverbs 20:3 – It is to one’s honor to avoid a fight, but any fool is quick to quarrel.  Fools vent, they can’t hold their tongue, and they are easily angered.  #7 – Fools expose themselves in public, they don’t think before they act.  Proverbs 13:16 – Wise people act with knowledge, but a fool puts his stupidity on full display.  Ecclesiastes 10:3 – Even as the fool walks down the road, his sense is lacking, and he shows everyone that he is a fool.  Proverbs 27:12 – The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it.  #8 - Volume of words reveal the fool.  Ecclesiastes 5:3 - Too many cares give you restless dreams, too many words make you a fool (a fool’s voice is known by his many words).  Proverbs 10:18 – When words are many, sin is unavoidable, but he who holds his tongue is wise.  #9 - Fools lean left.  Ecclesiastes 10:2 - The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool, to the left.  Just let that sink in for a minute.  #10 – The wise spread knowledge, fools don’t - they have none.  Proverbs 15:7 – The lips of the wise disperse knowledge, not so the hearts of fools.  Proverbs 24:7 – Wisdom is too high for a fool, in the assembly at the city gate, he has nothing to say.   #11 - Fools spend whatever they get.  Proverbs 21:20 - The wise man saves for the future, but the foolish man spends whatever He gets.  These eleven marks of a fool – are characteristics to be avoided, God wants us instead to walk in wisdom!   But God gives another sober warning: Matt 5:21-22 – You’ve heard it said to the ancients, ‘Do not murder,’ and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment, but I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment.  Whoever says to his brother “Raca” (meaning empty one, empty headed) will be subject to the council; and whoever says ‘You fool!’ will be subject to the fires of hell.  So don’t be a fool, and don’t call someone a fool.  God gives yet another warning of the foolishness of greed.  To anyone who stores up treasures on earth to spend on their own pleasures, but is not rich toward God… Luke 12:20 - But God said to him, “You fool, this very night your life will be required of you, and then who will get what you’ve stored up for yourself.”  But perhaps the most important warning God gives regarding foolishness - It is not just a list to avoid, people could become foolish if they reject the Word of God.  They won’t recognize the wisdom of God, versus the foolishness of men.  I Corinthians 1:26 – Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called.  Not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were influential, not many of noble birth.  But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.  God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things – and the things that are not to nullify the things that are.  So that no one may boast before God.  This comment is not that we should be foolish.  God’s Word clearly says that we should be wise, not foolish.  God is talking here about the Gospel of Jesus – which is foolishness to the world, but the wisdom of God for Salvation.  I Corinthians 3:19 – For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight.  As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness.” And again, “The LORD knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.  And here is the danger and warning:  Romans 1:20 – For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.  For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God, nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile, and their foolish hearts were darkened.  Though they claimed to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being, and birds and animals and reptiles.  Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.  Sin will lead you into foolishness.  Rejecting God’s Law and God’s Word – will have you thinking that you are wise, when you really have become a fool.  Those who have fallen that far cannot accept the good news of Christ, or the things of God.  I Corinthians 1:21 – For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.  Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.  For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.  So on April Fool’s Day - what does God want us to know about fools?  #1 - You could become one, if you reject God’s Word and His truth.  Don’t be a fool, walk in the wisdom of God.  #2 - Don’t call anyone a fool, only use words that build up, not tear down.  #3 - Don’t judge people, just actions.  And make sure your own actions reflect the wisdom and knowledge of God.  And since sin can so completely deceive people, and blind them in foolishness, #4 - Pray that God will remove the blinders so they can see truth, and come to Christ.  Meanwhile, live a life that honors God, don’t become foolish, grow in wisdom.  How?  #5 - Let God’s Word dwell in you richly.  So the wisdom of God, becomes what your life is built on.  Praying that April Fool’s Day will never apply to you, but that you will learn humility and the fear of the LORD – the beginning of wisdom. 
 
Love you all,
dad