Don't Do That!

Love you all, praying for you,
 
I just love God’s Word – It tells you what to do and what not to do. It gives warnings.  Have you ever thought about what you definitely do not want to do, or be, or become?  Here’s a suggestion.  Don’t be a fool.  God warns about them, and how to become one.  You definitely do not want to do that.  That means you weren’t one, but you became one…  How do you become a fool?  Neglect His Word – and you will surely become a fool. If you neglect His Word, you will neglect His ways. (Psalm 107:17)  If you don’t obey this first thing, you’ll forget and do other things…  The best way to not ever become a fool, is stay in His Word,  Make PRISM your daily, lifelong habit, and do everything He planned for you today.  So what did God warn about fools? Not just to avoid them, don’t become one.  What are Eleven Marks of a fool? Things you definitely do not want to do...  #1 - The fool has said in His heart, “There is no God.” (Psalms 14:1) How foolish.  The created refusing to believe in The Creator when His evidence is everywhere, even that last breath you just took.  #2 – The fool doesn’t understand that though the wicked spring up like grass, and evildoers flourish, they will be forever destroyed (Psalms 92:6). The fool doesn’t understand this, he either joins them, or blames God for not seeing or doing anything about it.  They are senseless.  Don’t doubt God in dark times, seek His face, put your faith in Him.  Don’t be a fool.   #3 – A fool returns to folly.  Whether word or deed, they always come back to the sin that so easily besets them.  They chose the pleasures of sin for a season over the eternal reward of heaven.  They love the things of the world. They will return to it, even if they escape it.  As a dog returns to his vomit so a fool returns to his folly. (Proverbs 26:11) They can’t see their own folly. They act with impunity as if God cannot see what they are doing, or bring them to account.  Don’t ever fall into that deception yourself… don’t return to folly.  #4 - A fool is quick to quarrel.” Sometimes you just need to give them a piece of your mind.  No… you probably should hang on to the little you got… That’s how fools think.  Proverbs 20:3 - It is to a man’s honor to overlook an offense (to avoid a fight), but every fool is quick to quarrel.  A fool is combative, easily offended, ready to throw down at the slightest provocation. It’s how they think.  If you think like a fool, you’ll soon become one if you aren’t one already.  If you don’t avoid them, you’ll get caught up in the beat down they will surely receive.  Proverbs 10:14 – The wise store up knowledge, but the mouth of the fool invites ruin.  Proverbs 18:6 – The lips of fools bring them strife, and their mouths invite a beating.  Don’t do that… #5 - A fool is easily enticed, easy prey for the adulteress.   Because they live off of natural impulses, they ‘can’t help themselves.’  Proverbs 7:22 - "He followers her on impulse, like an ox going to the slaughter , or as a fool to the correction of the stocks."  A fool is always headed for shackles – ankle bracelets.. A fool – eviyl – pronounced “ev-eel” (sound familiar?) means perverse – slow to obey.  “Turning it around in their mind, until they end up going to the contrary.”  Fools are perverse, they always delay obedience, so they end up not obeying.  They are not quick obeyers which could have saved them from folly.    #6 - A fool is proud, they think they know better, they do not want to change – because they think they are right.  Proverbs 12:15 - The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to counsel.  Fools think their own way is right. They trust in themselves.  Proverbs 28:26 – Those who trust in their own insight are fools, but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe.  Fools don’t listen.  They don’t seek counsel, they don’t heed counsel.  Proverbs 15:5 – The fool disregards his father’s instruction, but whoever learns from correction is wise.  They don’t even heed correction.  Proverbs 27:22 - Though you grind a fool in a pestle, you will not remove his folly from him.  Proverbs 17:10 – A rebuke impresses a wise man more than a hundred lashes a fool.  #7 – A fool takes pleasure in wrong doing.  They are always looking for the next party, the next mischief to get into.  They laugh at the misfortune of others.  Proverbs 10:23 – Doing wrong is fun for a fool, but a man of wisdom delights in understanding.  A fool delights in shameful conduct, he takes pleasure in mischief.  Always wanting to do things that dishonor God, or could harm others.  #8 - A fool vents, they are easily annoyed – they don’t hold their tongue, whether to themselves, or others…. their folly is always on display.  Proverbs 29:11 - A fool uttereth all his mind, but a wise man keepeth it in til afterwards. (A fool vents all his feelings, but the wise person keeps them to himself.)  Proverbs 12:16 – A fool shows his annoyance at once, but the prudent overlook an insult.  Proverbs 12:23 – The prudent keep their knowledge to themselves, but a fool’s heart blurts out folly.  Proverbs 13:16 – All who are prudent act with knowledge, but fools expose their folly (Wise people think before they act; fools don’t – and even brag about their foolishness.)  Ecclesiastes 10:3 – Even as fools walk along the road, they lack sense and show everyone how stupid they are.   Proverbs 14:16 – The wise fear the LORD and shun evil, but a fool is hotheaded with reckless confidence.  Fools are overconfident, they lack discernment.  #9 - A fool chatters – always talking – when they have little, nothing, or nothing good to say, they can’t help but saying stupid…  the wise are comfortable with awkward silence.  It’s not awkward for them…  Someone once said, "Better to be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt."  God said, “Even a fool is thought wise if he holds his tongue.”  If nothing else, do it for that…  Fools are always talking, rarely making sense, devoid of wisdom, but overweening with pride.  Proverbs 10:8 – The wise in heart accept commands, but a chattering fool comes to ruin.  (The wise are glad to be instructed, but a babbling fool falls flat on his face.)   Proverbs 18:7 – A fool’s mouth is his own undoing, and his lips are a snare to his very life.  His talk gets him into trouble, it is his ruin in the end.  Ecclesiastes 5:3 – Too many worries lead to bad dreams, and a fool is known by his multitude of words.  (The more you worry, the more likely you are to have bad dreams, and the more you talk, the more likely you are to say something foolish.)  Fools chatter.  Ecclesiastes 10:12 – Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious, but fools are consumed by their own lips.  (The lips of a fool consume him)  Proverbs 10:19 – When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise… (He who restrains his lips is wise, he who keeps thoughtful silence is wise)  #10 - A fool is always scheming but always getting schemed.  Fools are always trying to get one over on somebody, little knowing, they are just bringing themselves to ruin.  They are trying to get a steal, get the better end of the deal… but they are just getting played themselves.  Proverbs 10:10 Whoever winks with the eye causes grief, and foolish lips will come to ruin.  Ill gotten gain evaporates.  Proverbs 10:2 – Ill-gotten gains have no lasting value, but righteousness delivers from death.    #11 - A fool slanders constantly.  Always dissing people, always throwing shade.  Always talking about people, having a critical spirit. Be careful – don’t criticize others, don’t fall into the pit of slander – it’s hard to get out.   Proverbs 10:18 – Hiding hatred makes you a liar; slandering others makes you a fool.  (Whoever utters slander is a fool).  Never speak ill of others, decline, avoid it. It never leads to anything good.  The fear of the LORD is to say nothing harmful.  Why be a fool?   Here’s a nugget…  God even talks about a Fool on Steroids.  There are two mentions in the Bible of ‘there is more hope for a fool than for him.’  This is a fool on steroids, someone who is worse than a fool, that takes fool to whole ‘nother level -  that insures permanent fool status.  Proverbs 26:12 – Do you see a person wise in their own eyes?  There is more hope for a fool than for them.   And Proverbs 29:20 – Do you see someone who speaks in haste?  There is more hope for a fool than for them.  Proverbs 18:13 explains it… – To answer before listening, that is folly and shame.  God warns of these two bad habits…  If you think you are wise, or if you speak before listening) – you are headed for the Hall of Shame – of fools – the best of the best. 
 
Praise God, there is a difference between a foolish decision, and being a fool.  That might be what you did, but that’s not you. Humble yourself, repent and turn.  Get God’s plan and do it.  Get God’s Word – and speak it, write it down, store it up, and repeat it.  It will take root in you, it will change your heart and change your mind, it will change your character, even your DNA.  Fools can become wise, - just leave your simple ways and you will live. (Proverbs 9:6) Praise God there is hope, even for fools, even for me and you!  God loves you, His way is the best way!  There’s nothing even close!  His Word can change you, His grace is enough.  His love for you is eternal.  That’s why he warns us of stuff we shouldn’t ever do.  Don’t do it.  Instead pursue wisdom and righteousness, through His Plans and His Word, and quick obedience, and you’ll leave foolish behind. 
 
Love you all,
dad