Do we answer foolishly to a fool?
Proverbs 26:4--How does one answer a fool according to his folly? A folly is defined as a lack of good sense. It's also defined as a costly building with no practical purpose.
When someone acts in a foolish manner, do we respond by mocking them or do we offer them a wise option?
It's easy to just ignore a fool and let them go on their merry way--and sometimes that is the wise thing to do. However, as a "recovering fool," there were milestone moments when wise souls gently corrected me. I may not have altered my behavior, but if their life reflected GOD's wisdom, I would take note.
Eventually, those milestones led me to hunger GOD's wisdom and set me on that journey.
So, answering a fool according to his folly to me means to make fun of them. A roll of the eyes or snide remarks is not just foolish, it's hurtful.
It's worth noting that we now have an open arena for answering a fool foolishly--social media. Otherwise gracious people can behave in irrational, foolish ways which then promotes other responses that are far from Godly.
In these controversial scenarios, there is seldom anything positive that results in reacting. In fact, it's time-consuming, raises the blood-pressure, and produces no viable outcome. A costly endeavor with no practical purpose.
Perhaps I'm naive, but I have hope for the souls in my life that struggle with foolishness. So, I still try. A good rule when we encounter foolish behavior is: if we can't speak wisdom, then don't speak at all. After all: "...even a fool who keeps quiet, is considered wise..." (Proverbs 17:28)
May we answer wisely, my friends.
Proverbs 26:4--Do not answer a fool according to his folly, else you also will be like him. Tree of Life Bible Society Tree of Life Version - TLV #tlvbible#tlvproverbs
[WATCH MONDAY through FRIDAY LIVE at 8:30EST, Tree of Life Bible Society's CEO, Daniah Greenberg and me, Terri Gillespie, Author dig a little deeper with the book of Proverbs. Watch previous episodes there as well. Stay wise, my friends!]
When someone acts in a foolish manner, do we respond by mocking them or do we offer them a wise option?
It's easy to just ignore a fool and let them go on their merry way--and sometimes that is the wise thing to do. However, as a "recovering fool," there were milestone moments when wise souls gently corrected me. I may not have altered my behavior, but if their life reflected GOD's wisdom, I would take note.
Eventually, those milestones led me to hunger GOD's wisdom and set me on that journey.
So, answering a fool according to his folly to me means to make fun of them. A roll of the eyes or snide remarks is not just foolish, it's hurtful.
It's worth noting that we now have an open arena for answering a fool foolishly--social media. Otherwise gracious people can behave in irrational, foolish ways which then promotes other responses that are far from Godly.
In these controversial scenarios, there is seldom anything positive that results in reacting. In fact, it's time-consuming, raises the blood-pressure, and produces no viable outcome. A costly endeavor with no practical purpose.
Perhaps I'm naive, but I have hope for the souls in my life that struggle with foolishness. So, I still try. A good rule when we encounter foolish behavior is: if we can't speak wisdom, then don't speak at all. After all: "...even a fool who keeps quiet, is considered wise..." (Proverbs 17:28)
May we answer wisely, my friends.
Proverbs 26:4--Do not answer a fool according to his folly, else you also will be like him. Tree of Life Bible Society Tree of Life Version - TLV #tlvbible#tlvproverbs
[WATCH MONDAY through FRIDAY LIVE at 8:30EST, Tree of Life Bible Society's CEO, Daniah Greenberg and me, Terri Gillespie, Author dig a little deeper with the book of Proverbs. Watch previous episodes there as well. Stay wise, my friends!]
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