Where In The Bible Will I
Find:
Fools Of God?
No
one likes to be called a "fool." Jesus specifically forbad His
children from using that kind of language. "...whosoever shall say,
Thou fool, shall be, in danger of hell fire" (Matt. 5:22). God calls
the man who rejects evidence for God's existence a fool. "...The fool
hath said in his heart, there is no God..." (Psm. 14:1). That verse
probably should be translated, "The fool has said in his heart, I will
have no God." But whatever the case, both the theoretical and the
practical atheist is a fool in God's sight.
The
topic for this article comes from Paul's first letter to the Corinthians. "We
are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are
strong; ye are honorable, but we are despised" (I Cor. 4:10). One does
not have to be especially perceptive to discern a note of sarcasm in Paul's
observations about the Corinthians. Many of the Corinthians had taken pride in
their gifts and accomplishments. Paul had just reprimanded his Corinthian
brothers and sisters for being puffed up about their spectacular gifts. He then
asked, "...For who maketh thee to differ from another? And what hast
thou that thou didst not receive? Now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou
glory, as if thou hadst not received it" (I Cor. 4:67)?
Paul shows himself willing to accept the designation of "fool"
if it would advance the cause of Christ at Corinth. Christians are not fools,
but the world views us in that light. Why would a "reasonable" man
give up the world to embrace New Testament Christianity? Are we not fools in
the world's opinion when we refuse to drink like worldly people, commit
adultery, gamble, approve the killing of babies by abortion and other publicly
sanctioned behavior? How could a wise man put his life on the line for Jesus
Christ and His kingdom? How can we sacrifice prestige, money, worldly glory and
even our lives for the cause of Jesus Christ? The world does often treat God's
people as if they were fools.
Solomon
said almost three thousand years ago, "The fear of the LORD is the
beginning of knowledge; but fools despise wisdom and. instruction ... The fear
of the LORD is understanding" (Prov. 1:7; 9:10). Christians may hurt
when they are called fools, but I had rather be a fool in the world's eyes than
one in God's sight.
