April 2000

Part 2 of 2

by Carole Forde

here are fools and "fools"; the trick is learning (like the song)"What Kind of Fool Am I"? The carnal fool is well-defined in Scripture, so let us first read of him and see how we measure up.
                 "The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God’! These are corrupt ones who have done abominable works; there is none that does good! The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men to see if any possessed (Godly) understanding and did seek after God; but He determined they had ALL gone astray and had all together become filthy; and that there is none that does good, no not one!" (Ps 14:1-3) [Thus ALL men are FOOLS in the sight of God!]

"The wise in heartwill hear and obey commandments; ["The fool will be a servant to the wise of heart." Pr 11:29]; furthermore the fool with perverse lips shall fall... he speaks slanderously...he dies for lack of Wisdom...to him, wickedness is a sport ." (Pr 10:8,18, 21, 23)

"The way of a fool is right in his own eyes." (Pr 12:15)

"The fool rages insolently, and he is presumptuously self-confident." (Pr 14:16)

"A fool despises his father’s instruction." (Pr 15:5)

"One word of reproof impacts the heart of a wise man quicker than 100 stripes on a fool....(which is why)...the father of a fool has no joy." (Pr 17:10, 21)

"A fool takes no delight in receiving (Godly) understanding; but he loves to discover his own heart (i.e., he loves to hear himself talk)." (Pr 18:2)

"Wisdom is too high for a fool." (Pr 24:7)

"The fool walks in darkness!" (Ec 2:14)

"A wise man’s heart is at (God’s) Right Hand; [where there is found: "Salvation" (Ps 17:7); "Pleasures forevermore" (Ps 167:11); "Length of days" (Pr 3:16);

"Power" (Lu 22:69); and "Christ seated!" (Col 3:1)] but a fool’s heart is at His Left Hand." [representing judgment, chastisement, and correction.] Eccl 10:3

But in the end "THE FOOL’S LIPS WILL SWALLOW HIM UP!" (Eccl 10:12)

                So how do we measure up? Are we this foolish fool, or shall we be merely falsely accused as being "Fools for the sake of our testimony in Christ"? (1 Cor 4:10) What do we mean by this?
                 Are we saying that we should ride about on bicycles, knock on every door, pass out tracts on streets, or collar people at every turn with our Salvation speech in one hand, and a hammer in the other? What foolishness! No, we are considered fools by today’s religious systems because we don’t do all these things; but just seek to "LOVE GOD AND OUR NEIGHBOR AS OURSELVES"and only speak of doctrinal issues "if and when" we see that Father has opened a "hearing ear". Are you this kind of "fool", beloved? Then rejoice, and again I wish you a "Happy Fool’s Day"! Amen