Loving a Fool |
God's View:
Prov. 12:15
; 18:2
; 28:26
; 30:32
-Proverbs describes a fool as one who
is angry, arrogant and self-centered. Some of us blame ourselves primarily
or we blame others for our problems. In either case, the focus is on the
self, on one's own needs and purposes. A fool's anger is to intimidate and
frighten in order to establish his pre-eminence and independence, and to
gain compliance and control.
Hope:
Ps. 14:1
; 53:1
; Lu. 12:19-20
; Ps. 73
-The fool normally uses arrogant
pride as a shield against the shame provoked by exposure. It is an intense
self-centeredness. His heart is empty, but feels full because it finds
satisfaction in the material world. He does not say God doesn't exist but
that God does not matter. What does matter is what he can lay his hands on
to fill his soul. A fool is self-sufficient, and is easily satisfied but
morally stupid. A fool is insatiable but easily pleased. But the only true
fullness comes from humble dependence on the mercy of God.
Phil. 2:12 ; Heb. 2:10 ; 5:8-9 ; 1 Pet. 4:1-3 -Fools seek easy resources in order to fulfill their own selfish desires regardless of the cost or damage done to themselves or others in the process. Fools hate the pain of discipline and the inherent fear involved in growing in wisdom and knowledge. Growth always involves fear and trembling and suffering and death. The fool hates anything that exposes the ugliness of his own heart, and he avoids the pain that produces lasting beauty.
Prov. 15:5 -Discipline involves loss and emptiness, whereas the fool is committed to pleasure and fullness. Discipline is personal engagement with thorns and thistles that moves to subdue the unruly chaos of the Fall and is a battle against the effects of the Fall. The fool refuses to struggle with the issues of character, he lives for pleasure. The fool disputes wisdom because he must abandon his anger and bravado, and experience the shame of helplessness.
Change:
Prov. 26:5
-A fool's folly must be exposed, consequences experienced,
and the failures of love discussed and worked through toward repentance.
We are called to use the highest degree of wisdom in knowing whether to rebuke
or to remain silent. The essence of love is not foolhardy sacrifice, but
judicious, well-planned disruption.
Lu. 18:18-25 ; Jn. 4:1-30 -Jesus did not allow Himself to get pulled into the quicksand of arrogant presumption or shame or based defensiveness. Instead, Jesus challenged his understanding of the word "good'in order to expose what he really desired- affirmation or radical change. At the well, Jesus did not get involved in the woman's defensive maneuver but continued to deepen her curiosity and hunger for what she knew she had not possessed-life-satisfying refreshment. He used data of the moment and used it to expose the heart of the woman rather than merely condemn her behaviour and exhort change.
Rom. 12:9-21
-When we 'set up' the fool for further exposure, as above, we
set ourselves up for attack. Be prepared to step aside lightly, but not in
fear, but be prepared to respond in tenderness and in strength, not succumb
to shame or intimidation, this will surprise the fool who no longer will
be in control of you or himself. Respond to him gently, be full of wit, passion,
sorrow, strength and tenderness. A fool cannot repent unless he feels pain.