He who makes a wrong judgment without knowing what is right is called an ignorant man. But one who cannot make a good judgment even though he has wonderful knowledge on the subject is called a foolish man. There is a difference between foolishness and ignorance. Yes, ignorance is truly a blessing. But if someone makes a mistake willingly after knowing all the facts, he is called a foolish man.
Why is it important to study foolishness? Jesus said, “For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you.”
Let’s read the above verse carefully. The Bible places foolishness among some of the worst sins we know. It is placed equally on par with sexual immorality, theft, and adultery. Foolishness can stop us from entering the kingdom of God.
Let’s see, who is foolish according to Jesus?
Those Who Hear But Do Not Do
Jesus said, “Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not do them, will be like a foolish (stupid) man who built his house on the sand“. – Matthew 7:26
Many all around the world have a great privilege to hear and read God’s word. Most of us have scriptures translated into our native language. We might have heard the words of Jesus through television, the internet, books, or radio programs. The world is saturated with the word of God.
Yet, Jesus was more concerned about how many are doing or following what is written in the Bible than reading it or knowing it. My parents taught me to read the Bible at a young age. I read my Bible just for the sake of reading. Never understood much and never took the scripture to my heart. Jesus calls this attitude as foolish.
Dear friend, can we search our hearts today? We might have heard about Jesus or read the Bible cover to cover. We might have memorized many verses. But do we follow what is written in the Bible? Let’s commit to following what we read today. Let each verse stitch our hearts and generate conviction to correct our past. May Jesus speak to us as we read the scripture and correct our private life. May He reveal all the weaknesses and help us strengthen our spiritual journey, so we will not be foolish in the eyes of God.
Those who know but don’t Believe
Then Jesus said to them, “You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures“.
God took Israelites from the land of Egypt all the way to the edge of the promised land within two years. The Israelites noticed all the ten plagues and saw the Red Sea parting before their own eyes. God led them by giving them food from heaven every day. They were about to enter the promised land flowing with milk and honey. But they were not willing to believe they could conquer the promised land. Giants were occupying the land and yes, logically it was impossible to beat them, giants. It was logically not possible to part the Red Sea too. Because the Israelites were not willing to believe in God’s power the entire generation had died in the desert land after wandering aimlessly for 38 years.
Knowing the power of God, His blessings, and prophecies, and then not believing is foolishness in the sight of God.
Dear friend, you might have read the bible and experienced God’s power in your life throughout. Believing the same God is alive today and He can do what He did in the Bible is faith. In the sight of God, those who know Him, but don’t believe in His power are called foolish by our Lord Jesus. Shall we search our hearts today? Let’s put our trust in Jesus and not in our logical reasoning.
Those who are prepared, but not ready
Jesus explained the essence of being ready through a parable.
“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them”.
The Parable is about ten virgins who went out to meet their bridegroom. All ten of them were prepared to meet the bridegroom. All of them were eagerly waiting for the bridegroom. All of them slept off because of physical tiredness, and all of them eagerly trimmed their lamp to make it ready when they heard the voice of the bridegroom approaching. But there was one difference. Only five carried enough oil to light their lamp, and the other five did not carry the extra oil. Their lamp burnt out at an important moment. Jesus calls the five virgins who did not carry enough oil as foolish virgins.
Dear friend, we all know we are approaching the end times and eagerly waiting for the coming of our Lord, Jesus Christ. We might know well about Christ. We might also be eagerly awaiting His coming. Is our heart ready to meet Him? Is our life driven by the power of the holy spirit? Jesus calls those who know about His coming, yet are not ready to meet Him as foolish people.
We may be fools in the world’s sight. But we should not be foolish before the Lord and lose out on Heaven. How miserable it would be if we knew everything about Christ and yet did not follow Him, Believe Him, and were not ready to meet Him? Shall we pray to Jesus and make us wise in His sight?
Dear Jesus, thank you for teaching me how not to be foolish before you. Please forgive me. I know your verse yet on so many occasions I did not follow them with all my heart. I know who you are and what magnificent things you have done for your people. Yet I did not believe in you with all my heart. Jesus, please forgive me. Help me to correct myself. Please fill me with your holy spirit. I want to be ready to meet you. Make me ready. Let me follow you with all my heart. In Jesus’s name, I pray. Amen.
What we can learn from the foolishness of biblical characters?