FOOLS OF THE BIBLE

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTROUDUCTION

 

A.   Today is referred to by most as “April Fools’ Day.”

1.     Another name:  All Fools Day

2.    Two explanations about the origination of this day:

a.    The change of the seasons:  individuals rejoice by playing tricks on their friends

b.    A change in the calendar by Pope Gregory XIII. 

1)     New calendar (Gregorian):  New Year’s Day on January 1^st

2)    Old calendar (Julian):  New Year’s Day on April 1^st

3)     Those who continued to use the old calendar were laughed at and made fun of and had jokes played on them.

3.     Those who are called “fools” on this day are the one tricked and deceived by their family and friends.

 

B.   The word “fool” is found in the Bible, 73 times in 69 verses.

1.     Five Hebrew words are translated “fool” and three Greeks words are translated “fool.”

2.    Some of the definitions of the word are:  silly, wicked, stupid, perverse, dull, heedless, mindless, unbelieving, without intelligence, and insane.

 

C.   In tonight’s lesson, we want to look at some Bible fools and make application to our lives.

 

I.          THE ATHEIST IS A FOOL

 

A.   Psalm 14:1

 

The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.

 

B.   Why is he a fool?  Because he rejects the evidence (Rom. 1:20).

 

For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being under-stood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.

 

1.     Invisible things are clearly seen.

2.    They are understood by the things that are made.

a.    The wonderful hosts of heaven (Ps. 19:1-3)

 

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handiwork.  Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.  There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard.

 

 

 

b.    The human body (Ps. 139:14)

 

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made:  marvelous are they works, and that my soul knoweth right well.

 

3.     A look at the evidence will demonstrate many things:

a.    There is a God.

b.    He is a powerful God.

c.    He is divine, that is, deity, and not human.

4.    …so they are without excuse.

 

II.        ONE WHO TRUSTS HIS OWN HEART IS A FOOL

 

A.   Proverbs 28:26

 

He that trusts in his own heart is a fool:  but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.

 

B.   Why is it not wise to trust in one’s own heart?  Because the heart can be deceitful (Jer. 17:9).

 

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked:  who can know it?

 

1.     The heart seeks to rationalize and justify many wrong actions.

2.    The heart seeks to please the flesh.

3.     The heart seeks the affirmation of others.

 

C.   Example:  Naaman (II King 5:1-14)

1.     Naaman was a Syrian commander who was plagued with leprosy (II Kings 5:1).

2.    He was commanded by the prophet of God to dip in the Jordan River seven times to be cleansed (II Kings 5:10).

3.     Naaman’s reaction (II Kings 5:11-12)

 

But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, he will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper.  Are not the Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel?  May I not wash in them and be clean?  So he turned and went away in a rage.

 

a.    Naaman’s heart had its own plan.

b.    Naaman’s heart had its own thoughts about the waters to be used.

c.    He departed, following his own heart, and left in a rage.  He was also still a leper.

 

D.   How often do we trust our own heart?

1.     In matters of salvation, individuals trust their own heart.

a.    Jesus was clear about what one must do to be saved (Mark 16:16).

 

He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

b.    The Bible may say that, one admits, but I feel in my heart that I am alright in the sight of God.

2.    With regard to faithfulness, individuals will often trust their own heart.

a.    The Lord wants us to be vibrant and active in His service (Rom. 12:11).

 

Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord.

 

b.    Lukewarm Christians will rationalize, saying:  “Well, the Lord under-stands.  He has grace.  He will forgive me.  I know in my heart that He loves and accepts me.”

 

C.   We must seriously guard the heart.

1.     Proverbs 4:23

 

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

 

2.    Our thoughts and understanding cannot be put over our trust in what God says (Prov. 3:5-7).

 

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all they ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.  Be not wise in thine own eyes:  fear the Lord, and depart from evil.

 

III.      ONE WHO TRUSTS IN RICHES IS A FOOL

 

A.   Luke 12:20-21

 

But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee:  then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?  So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

 

1.     This man was a wealthy man.

2.    He had so much wealth that he tore down his barns to build bigger barns.

3.     Then he said:  Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry (Luke 12:19).

4.    This man trusted in his riches and left God out of his plans.

 

B.   NOTE:  Riches are not good or bad.  They are neutral.  It is our attitude toward them, what they make us, and how we use them that can involve sin.

1.     Wealth makes us independent.

2.    Wealth makes us powerful.

3.     Wealth makes us popular.

4.    Wealth can make us proud and arrogant.

 

C.   Paul gives some worthy instructions to the rich in his first letter to Timothy (I Tim. 6:17-19).

 

Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may laid hold on eternal life.

 

1.     The don’ts

a.    Don’t be high minded

b.    Don’t trust in uncertain riches (1929 Stock Market Crash)

2.    The Do’s

a.    Do trust in the living God

b.    Do use your riches wisely

c.    Do make eternal life your priority

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   To go to heaven, we must become fools (I Cor. 3:18).

 

Let no man deceive himself.  If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.

 

1.     The world rejects God.

2.    The wise of the world reject the Son of the living God.

3.     The learned do not appreciate the sacrifice of Calvary.

4.    The wise refuse the message of God’s Word.

5.    The wise do not accept the bride of Christ, the church.

 

B.   To be acceptable to God, we must become fools in the eyes of the world.