Do we Act Like Fools?

Do we Act Like Fools?

INTRODUCTION… • 1. We have all heard someone say… • a. “You are acting fooling” • b. “Don’t be foolish” • c. “If you do…you will look like a fool!” • 2. Most of the time, these statements refer to silly or ridiculous behavior, and it is often taken lightly.

INTRODUCTION… • 1. We have all heard someone say… • a. “You are acting fooling” • b. “Don’t be foolish” • c. “If you do…you will look like a fool!” • 2. Most of the time, these statements refer to silly or ridiculous behavior, and it is often taken lightly. • 3. However, foolish behavior is often mentioned in God’s word, and this “spiritual foolishness” is not taken lightly! • 4. The last thing a Christian would want to be guilty of… is behaving in a way that God thinks is Foolish!

INTRODUCTION… • 5. We want to discuss what the Bible teaches about Fools and Foolish Behavior… • a. Examine the Biblical Definition of the word “Fool” • b. Make a few observations about Christians and Fools • c. Identify what Behaviors are Foolish to God!

I. Biblical Definition of a “Fool” • A. The Word … “Fool” • 1. Bible has much to say about Fools & Foolish behavior • a. 146 times in OT • b. 43 times in NT • 2. Numerous words used in both Hebrew and Greek • a. 20 Hebrew words • b. 13 Greek words • c. Most Gk. Words from: Aphron, Anoetos, Moros, Asunetos

Aphron- without reason; senseless, foolish, stupid; without reflection or intelligence, acting rashly Anoetos- not understood, unintelligible, not understanding, unwise, foolish Moros- without learning, foolish , impious, godless (sinful) Asunetos- unintelligent, without understanding, stupid

I. Biblical Definition of a “Fool” • A. The Word … “Fool” • 1. Bible has much to say about Fools & Foolish behavior • a. 146 times in OT • b. 43 times in NT • 2. Numerous words used in both Hebrew and Greek • a. 20 Hebrew words • b. 13 Greek words • c. Most Gk. Words from: Aphron, Anoetos, Moros, Asunetos • B. What is a “Fool” • Spiritually… stupid, silly, idiotic, unwise, imprudent, thoughtless or irrational… to the point of SIN!

II. Observations about Christians & “Fools”

II. Observations about Christians & “Fools” • A. We must be careful with the word “Fool”! • 1. Matthew 5:22

II. Observations about Christians & “Fools” • A. We must be careful with the word “Fool”! • 1. Matthew 5:22 - “But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.” • 2. Does this verse condemn the use of the word “Fool”?

II. Observations about Christians & “Fools” • A. We must be careful with the word “Fool”! • 1. Matthew 5:22 - “But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.” • 2. Does this verse condemn the use of the word “Fool”? • 3. NO -This verse condemns a angry, ungodly attitude towards others, not the correct use of the word…

McGarvey We have here three degrees of criminality or offense as to the sin of anger: 1. Silent rage; 2. Railing speech; 3. Bitter reproach…. We should note that while sin has stages, God takes note of it from its very first germination in the heart, and that a man’s soul is imperiled long before his feelings bear their fruitage of violence and murder. The Four Fold Gospel Barnes The Jews considered but one crime a violation of the sixth commandment, viz., actual murder, or willful, unlawful, taking life. Jesus says that the commandment is much broader. It relates not only to the external act, but to the feelings and words. He specifies three forms of such violation: (1.) Unjust anger. (2.) Anger accompanied with an expression of contempt. (3.) Anger, with an expression not only of contempt, but wickedness. Barnes New Testament Notes

II. Observations about Christians & “Fools” • A. We must be careful with the word “Fool”! • 1. Matthew 5:22 - “But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.” • 2. Does this verse condemn the use of the word “Fool”? • 3. NO - This verse condemns a angry, ungodly attitude towards others, not the correct use of the word… • Mt 23:17&19…..Jesus, the scribes & Pharisees are fools • 1 Cor 1:20……..Paul, the wisdom of the world is Foolish • 2 Tim 2:23 & Titus 3:9….Paul, Foolish Disputes

II. Observations about Christians & “Fools” • B. We are Not to Be Foolsor Foolish • Proverbs 9:6 - Forsake foolishness and live, And go in the way of understanding. • Eph 5:15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, - Foolish talking vs 4

II. Observations about Christians & “Fools” • B. We are Not to Be Foolsor Foolish • Proverbs 9:6 - Forsake foolishness and live, And go in the way of understanding. • Eph 5:15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, - Foolish talking vs 4 • C. But…We are to be Fools for the Cause of Christ! • 1 Corinthians 4:10 - We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! …” • 1 Corinthians 3:18 - “.. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. • 1 Corinthians 1:18, 21-“.. The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing…”

II. Observations about Christians & “Fools” • B. We are Not to Be Foolsor Foolish • Proverbs 9:6 - Forsake foolishness and live, And go in the way of understanding. • Eph 5:15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, - Foolish talking vs 4 • C. But…We are to be Fools for the Cause of Christ! • 1 Corinthians 4:10 - We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! …” • 1 Corinthians 3:18 - “.. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. • 1 Corinthians 1:18, 21-“.. The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing…”ff vs. 26-28 • THIS CAN BE DIFFICULT FOR CHRISTIANS! – Rom 12:2

II. Observations about Christians & “Fools” • D. Avoid Fools & Their Foolishness • Proverbs 14:7 - “Go from the presence of a foolish man…” When you do not perceive in him the lips of knowledge. • Proverbs 17:12 - Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs, Rather than a fool in his folly.

II. Observations about Christians & “Fools” • D. Avoid Fools & Their Foolishness • Proverbs 14:7 - “Go from the presence of a foolish man…” When you do not perceive in him the lips of knowledge. • Proverbs 17:12 - Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs, Rather than a fool in his folly. • 2 Tim 2:23 - But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. • Titus 3:9-11 - But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.

III. Popular Foolish Behavior…

III. Popular Foolish Behavior… A. Rejecting God in any form is Foolishness!

III. Popular Foolish Behavior… • A. Rejecting God in any form is Foolishness! • 1. Atheists are Fools • Psalm 14:1 - “The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God…” Rom 1:22

III. Popular Foolish Behavior… • A. Rejecting God in any form is Foolishness! • 1. Atheists are Fools • Psalm 14:1 - “The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God…” Rom 1:22 • 2. Those that Follow Worldly Wisdom are Fools • 1 Corinthians 3:19 - “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. …” • Romans 1:22 - Professing to be wise, they became fools,

III. Popular Foolish Behavior… • A. Rejecting God in any form is Foolishness! • 1. Atheists are Fools • Psalm 14:1 - “The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God…” Rom 1:22 • 2. Those that Follow Worldly Wisdom are Fools • 1 Corinthians 3:19 - “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. …” • Romans 1:22 - Professing to be wise, they became fools, • 3. Those that Hear, but do not Obey are Fools • Matthew 7:26 - "But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand:

III. Popular Foolish Behavior… • A. Rejecting God in any form is Foolishness! • 4. Those that Leave the Faithare Fools • Galatians 3:1 - O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth,

III. Popular Foolish Behavior… B. Being Out-of-Control & Ungodly is Foolish!

III. Popular Foolish Behavior… • B. Being Out-of-Control & Ungodly is Foolish! • 1. Those who are Arrogant & Self-Righteous are Fools • Proverbs 1:7 - But fools despise wisdom and instruction. • Proverbs 12:15 - The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,

III. Popular Foolish Behavior… • B. Being Out-of-Control & Ungodly is Foolish! • 1. Those who are Arrogant & Self-Righteous are Fools • Proverbs 1:7 - But fools despise wisdom and instruction. • Proverbs 12:15 - The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, • 2. Those who are Wrathful are Fools • Job 5:2 - “For wrath kills a foolish man, …” • Proverbs 9:13 - “A foolish woman is clamorous…” • Proverbs 14:17 - “A quick-tempered man acts foolishly,..”

III. Popular Foolish Behavior… • B. Being Out-of-Control & Ungodly is Foolish! • 3. Those who are Materialistic are Fools • Luke 12:16-2119‘And I will say to my soul, "Soul, … take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” 20"But God said to him, ‘Fool! … 21"So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.“ 1 Tim 6:9

III. Popular Foolish Behavior… • B. Being Out-of-Control & Ungodly is Foolish! • 3. Those who are Materialistic are Fools • Luke 12:16-2119‘And I will say to my soul, "Soul, … take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” 20"But God said to him, ‘Fool! … 21"So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.“ 1 Tim 6:9 • 4. Those who are Not careful with their Tongue are Fools • Proverbs 15:2- the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness. • Proverbs 18:7 - A fool‘s mouth is his destruction, And his lips are the snare of his soul. • Proverbs 19:1 - Better is the poor who walks in his integrity Than one who is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.

III. Popular Foolish Behavior… C. Fools are False Teachers & Offer False Worship

III. Popular Foolish Behavior… • C. Fools are False Teachers & Offer False Worship • 1. They are Disobedient in Worship • 1 Samuel 13:13 - And Samuel said to Saul, "You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the LORD

III. Popular Foolish Behavior… • C. Fools are False Teachers & Offer False Worship • 1. They are Disobedient in Worship • 1 Samuel 13:13 - And Samuel said to Saul, "You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the LORD • 2. They are Spiritual Hypocrites • Jesus strongly condemns (moros) the Scribes & Pharisees for their hypocrisy! • Matt 23:17,19 - "Fools and blind! • Luke 11:40 - “Foolish ones!…”

III. Popular Foolish Behavior… • C. Fools are False Teachers & Offer False Worship • 3. They follow the Doctrines of men • Ezekiel 13:3 - "Woe to the foolish prophets, who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing! • Matthew 23:17,19 - "Fools and blind! • Galatians 3:1 - O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth; Galatians 3:3 - Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? • James 2:20 - But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?

CONCLUSION… 1. The Bible has much to say about Fools and Foolishness!

CONCLUSION… • 1. The Bible has much to say about Fools and Foolishness! • 2. These are folks God calls Fools, • a. Those who Reject God • Atheists, Follow wisdom of the world, Hear, but do not obey or leave the faith • b. Those who Act Out of Control & Ungodly • Materialistic, Arrogant & Self-Righteous, Wrathful or Uncontrollable tongue. • c. False Teachers/Worshippers or Spiritual Hypocrites • Worship incorrectly, Hypocrites, or Follow doctrines of men

CONCLUSION… • 1. The Bible has much to say about Fools and Foolishness! • 2. These are folks God calls Fools, • a. Those who Reject God • Atheists, Follow wisdom of the world, Hear, but do not obey or leave the faith • b. Those who Act Out of Control & Ungodly • Materialistic, Arrogant & Self-Righteous, Wrathful or Uncontrollable tongue. • c. False Teachers/Worshippers or Spiritual Hypocrites • Worship incorrectly, Hypocrites, or Follow doctrines of men • 3. As with anything that God condemns, let us make sure we do not Act Like Fools!

Do we Act Like Fools?