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looking like a fool

As I continue speaking to The Community family from the book of Ecclesiastes (see chapters 10 & 11 for more insight), I found some interesting stuff to say the least.  Looking like a fool is something we are all good at.  Not just the song from "American Idol" fame of looking like a fool with your pants on the ground, all of us find our selves on the wrong road by our own choices.

 

Proverbs 12:15
(NLT) --- Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others.

 

Proverbs 16:25
(NLT) --- There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.

 

It is important that we follow the direction God gives us.  Trusting God is not something we can miss or push aside.  God has awesome plans for us that keep us from looking like a fool and keep us from falling into places we don't need to go.

 

Proverbs 14:27
(NLT) --- Fear of the Lord is a life-giving fountain; it offers escape from the snares of death.

 

One way we become foolish is by entertaining the wrong thoughts.  Satan is a liar for sure.  Call him that.  Believe it.  Take some time to deal with your thoughts.  Here is what God says will keep us from looking like a fool:

 

2 Corinthians 10:5
(NLT) --- We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,

 

Loving in not normal ways (see Ecclesiastes 11:1-8) will allow us to help others and stay away from what foolish people do.  Think about it.  When we help others, when we support, think through and love on people the way Jesus did, we are being unselfish and most like Jesus.  Fools help themselves and don't listen to God.

 

Psalm 41:1-2 (NKJV) --- Blessed is he who considers the poor; The LORD will deliver him in time of trouble. The LORD will preserve him and keep him alive, And he will be blessed on the earth; You will not deliver him to the will of his enemies.

 

Luke 6:38 (MSG) --- Give away your life; you'll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity."

 

Foolishness is like a bad sickness.  It comes in pretty easy, but it takes much to make it leave.  The one sure healer is faith.  Trusting God pushes away foolishess. 

 

For me the one thing that points to my foolishness is worry.  Worry shows a lack of faith.  So, I admit it and often I need to back up, confess where I missed out on faith and then trust God.  He is able.  He wants to work.  He can and will remove foolishness from my life and even bring blessings like peace, contentment and passion for His call in my life.

 

I close with the following verse.  It has brought me light when I was pretty much living in darkness.  This verse took me from being foolish to being wise.  God's peace will be in us if we trust Him.  Try this today:

 

Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT) --- Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.  Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Comments

Scott Couchenour said…
I can really identify with the foolish worry thing. Thanks for pointing out the absurdity of worry.
September 28, 2010 at 8:38:00 AM EDT
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