THE DISOBEDIENT IS PLAYING THE FOOL WHEN HE REJECTS THE COMMANDS OF GOD.
When king Saul disobeyed God, He was told he was rejected by God 1 Samuel 15:1-22.
God has always demanded obedience from man, from Eden until the present time.
In fact, Solomon gives us this information in no uncertain terms: Ecclesiastes
12:13.
All the great heroes of faith, mentioned in Heb. 11, did what God told them
to do.
And the Lord still asks today: "Why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not
the things that I say?" Luke 6:46.
Look at what God tells us in: 1 Peter 1:22 “Since you have in obedience
to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently
love one another from the heart”.
James 1:21,22. “Therefore putting aside all filthiness and all that remains
of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save
your souls. But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who
delude themselves”.
Truly, one who hears without doing is deceiving himself; he is therefore foolish.
The only way we can show love and respect for God is by doing what He tells
us.
As Jesus said in John 14:15, "If ye love me, ye will keep my commandments."
And note also: 1 John 5:3 “For this is the love of God, that we keep His
commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome”.
When one tries to claim the blessings of God before doing His will, such can
truly say: "I have played the fool."
THE SELFISH PERSON IS PLAYING THE FOOL.
When John's disciples came asking Jesus if He were the Christ, note Jesus' answer:
Matthew 11:4,5 “And Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Go report
to John what you hear and see: the blind receive sight and the lame walk, the
lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor
have the gospel preached to them”.
The life of Jesus was a life of service to his fellowman.
Note what He told His apostles in Matthew 20:28 “just as the Son of Man
did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many”.
After He had washed the feet of the disciples, note what He said to them in
John 13:15 “For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did
to you”.
He healed, He taught, and He comforted.
In answer to the lawyer's question, "Who is my neighbor?" Jesus told
the story of the Good Samaritan. Luke 10:30-37.
Love for one's neighbor requires caring, helping and serving his needs.
Note what Paul says in: Galatians 6:1-10.
It is so easy to get so wrapped up in ourselves, in our own lives and in our
own problems, that we neglect the cries for help that sound out around us.
We are told that one who is wrapped up in himself makes a very small package.
We need to learn the lesson that is found in Romans 14:7.
Truly, we are our brother's keeper, Genesis 4:9, and our lives must show it.
In view of eternity, any other way of life is indeed foolish.
HE WHO TRUSTS IN THE MATERIAL THINGS OF THIS WORLD IS PLAYING THE FOOL.
I'm afraid that we still haven't learned the truth of what Jesus is teaching
in Luke 12:15-21.
We work and we struggle to save and hoard a little of this world's goods, then
it is gone, and/or we are gone.
Really, what have we accomplished?
Solomon says that it is just "striving after the wind." Ecclesiastes
1:14,17.
Hosea tells us if we "sow the wind, we will reap the whirlwind." Hosea
8:7.
We must learn to trust in, and to seek after, the spiritual things.
Jesus said: "Lay up treasures in heaven..." Matthew 6:19.
This must be more than words to us, it must become a way of life.
What if we do gain much of this world's goods, what then?
Jesus asks the question: "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain
the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange
for his soul?" Matthew 16:26.
How foolish it is to spend a lifetime in pursuit of THINGS which must then be
left behind when we depart this life.
But, Paul shows the wisdom of living a true life of Christianity.
Note what he says in 2 Corinthians 4:16-18.
Only fools trust in those things that soon perish.
It is said that he that works only for the things of this life is smart for
a little while but is a fool forever.
The Christian puts his trust in the spiritual things which are eternal.
TO BLAME OTHERS FOR OUR OWN MISTAKES IS TO PLAY THE FOOL.
This type of thing started with Adam and even in the Garden. Genesis 3:12.
Man has been "passing the buck" ever since.
Mr. Truman had a sign on his desk that said: "The buck stops here."
Aaron tried to excuse himself for making an idol, a golden calf, by trying to
place the blame on the people. Exodus 32:22-24.
Saul tried to place the blame for not completing his job of fully destroying
the Amalekites on the people. Even though he was the king responsible for such.
1 Samuel 15:15
Some complain, "No one likes me." If it is true, one should read;
Proverbs 18:24 “A man of many friends comes to ruin, but there is a friend
who sticks closer than a brother”.
In other words, if you don't have any friends, you should take a long look at
yourself for the reason.
Thomas Edison is reported to have said that his many inventions were the result
of "ninety-nine percent perspiration and one percent inspiration."
Success, or if you want to call it "luck", will usually follow the
one who prepares the best and works the hardest.
And those who do not prepare themselves and refuse to put forth real effort
are often the ones who cry loudest about the cruel lot in life which is theirs.
Jesus has said, "Lo, I am with you alway, even to the end of the world."
Matthew 28:20.
But that doesn't mean He will do for us what He tells us to do for ourselves.
Good fortune comes to the one prepared in his mind.
One day, each one of us will stand before the judgment bar of God to give an
account. Romans 14:12; 2 Corinthians 5:10.
We had better prepare for that day.
If we fail that test, we cannot blame God, or Christ or our fellowmen.
Yes, it is very foolish to blame someone else for our failures.
If we are lost eternally we can blame no one but ourselves.
We need to now accept the responsibility for what we do or fail to do.
For, in that final day, we will have to.
CONCLUSION
Not every instance of being a fool is considered bad.
Even Paul said “we are fools for Christ sake”
1 Corinthians 4:10
That is just because the world considers us fools for our demonstration of our
faith.
But most of the time, being a fool is not good.
Do not be found to be a fool for the wrong reason.
By Carey Scott based on an outline by Jim Sasser
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