How to Handle Fools, as Found in Proverbs 26

How to Handle Fools, as Found in Proverbs 26

After reading what the Bible defines as foolishness, we would have to admit that we, and those crossing our paths in this life, are guilty of foolishness.  We listen to foolishness emanating from our televisions, from political podiums, from socially-engineered school curriculum, and at our place of work.  Foolishness is all around us.

So, if we are surrounded by foolishness, how does one that wishes to live the way God wants him to get along with this world’s foolishness?  Proverbs 26 has a lot of advice on how to respond to fools and their foolishness:

• A fool may be feared and avoided, but he will never receive real honor or respect.
  “As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.” Prov. 26:1
• Condemning (“curse”) another or a situation without cause or reason will not change anything.
  “As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.” Prov. 26:2
• A fool will only learn from discipline or paying a high price for his actions.
  “A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool’s back.” Prov. 26:3
• There are one of two ways to deal with a fool.
  Do not lower yourself to the fool’s level, and do to him what he has done to you.
  “Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.” Prov. 26:4
  Also:
  “But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.” II Tim. 2:23
  “But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.” Tit. 3:9 The other way to cope with a fool is to answer him the way he spoke to you, or he will think he is right and continue in his foolishness.  It will take discernment and godly wisdom on how to answer him.
  “Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.” Prov. 26:5
• Be careful what you let a foolish person, do because you may be sorry.
  “He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage.” Prov. 26:6
• A fool may twist around what he is told.  He may misinterpret what is said to him; so be wise in what is said to him.
  “The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.” Prov. 26:7
• Giving respect or honor to a fool is often just giving them ammunition to continue in their foolish ways.
  “As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.” Prov. 26:8
• Wisdom given to a fool will be turned around and will be given incorrectly to those he talks to.
  “As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.” Prov. 26:9
• A fool will reap what he sows. Foolish acts usually have bad consequences that sometimes a foolish person will not even realize.
  “The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.” Prov. 26:10
• Foolish people often do not learn from their actions. They keep repeating behaviors that have had bad consequences for them in the past.
  “As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.” Prov. 26:11
• A person that conceitfully thinks too well of himself, may be without much hope of changing his behavior.
  “Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.” Prov. 26:12

A fool is very difficult to deal with.  Often a wise person, especially one trying to live a godly life, may be aggravated when dealing with one.  The fool’s responses to many situations are not logical as to how a Christian may want to respond or react. The above wisdom, however, along with other thoughts throughout God’s Word, can give a Christian advice for interacting with foolish people and help them avoid some embarrassments and regrets. May 31, 2017 by Bill Brinkworth