The Fool 2: His Traits
About year ago I began a topical study on the foolish man that I was going to post as a “series.” I posted one article and never finished posting them as I forgot about it, until recently. The posts are sitting in limbo, collecting digital dust in my draft folder, so I have decided to edit them and post them. Read part one about discerning a fool here.
In part two I am going to go over the traits of the fool as described in the book of Proverbs.
It is striking that in the book of Proverbs the foolish man is almost always contrasted with the wise man. Over and over again we read that fool does not possess wisdom, and even more striking, Proverbs says that a fool cannot even obtain wisdom. So the first characteristic of the fool is that he lacks wisdom. He may appear to search for wisdom, but is incapable of getting his hands on it. Being unwise, also means he is unrighteous. Proverbs says that the fool hates what is good and holy.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
fools despise wisdom and instruction. ~1:7How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple?
How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing
and fools hate knowledge? ~ 1:22The lips of the righteous feed many,
but fools die for lack of sense. ~ 10:21A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul,
but to turn away from evil is an abomination to fools. ~ 13:19Doing wrong is like a joke to a fool,
but wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding. ~ 10:23A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain,
but knowledge is easy for a man of understanding. ~ 14:6Fools mock at the guilt offering,
but the upright enjoy acceptance. ~ 14:9The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge,
but the mouths of fools feed on folly. ~15:14Why should a fool have money in his hand to buy wisdom
when he has no sense~ 17:16A fool takes no pleasure in understanding,
but only in expressing his opinion. ~ 18:2Wisdom is too high for a fool;
in the gate he does not open his mouth. ~ 24:7
For me the most striking thing from the book of proverbs about the fool is that the foolish man is in incapable of seeing things the way they really are. He is unrealistic about every aspect of life, including his own abilities. He does not live in reality and has a totally twisted and distorted outlook on life. What is plain and obvious to the wise is hidden to the fool. The fool routinely overestimates his knowledge, skills, and abilities. He is proud, haughty and a scoffer. He also believes that wisdom is easily attainable, like googling a topic and claiming to be an expert in any field. He is a know it all.
Why should a fool have money in his hand to buy wisdom
when he has no sense? ~ 17:16The discerning sets his face toward wisdom,
but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth. ~ 17:24“Scoffer” is the name of the arrogant, haughty man
who acts with arrogant pride. ~ 21:24
The trait of a fool that most of us notice right away in others, but not so often in ourselves, is the lack of discipline. The fool has no self control, desiring instant gratification in everything. He lacks discipline with his finances and possessions. He is undisciplined with his temper, blowing up in angry rage. The fool also spouts off, lacking discipline with his lips…. gossip, slander, and back-biting are his livelihood. Because of his lack of discipline the fool is also unreliable in everything. He is dishonest and cannot be trusted. He is a liar, a deceiver, and a slanderer.
The wise of heart will receive commandments,
but a babbling fool will come to ruin. ~ 10:8The wise lay up knowledge,
but the mouth of a fool brings ruin near. ~ 10:14The one who conceals hatred has lying lips,
and whoever utters slander is a fool. ~ 10:18The vexation of a fool is known at once,
but the prudent ignores an insult. ~ 12:16A prudent man conceals knowledge,
but the heart of fools proclaims folly. ~ 12:23The simple inherit folly,
but the prudent are crowned with knowledge. ~ 14:8The tongue of the wise commends knowledge,
but the mouths of fools pour out folly. ~ 15:2The lips of the wise spread knowledge;
not so the hearts of fools. ~ 15:7The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge,
but the mouths of fools feed on folly. ~ 15:14A fool takes no pleasure in understanding,
but only in expressing his opinion. ~ 18:2A fool’s mouth is his ruin,
and his lips are a snare to his soul. ~ 18:7Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity
than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool. ~ 19:1.Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity
than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool. ~ 21:30Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool
cuts off his own feet and drinks violence. ~ 26:6Like an archer who wounds everyone
is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard. ~ 26:10A fool gives full vent to his spirit,
but a wise man quietly holds it back. ~ 29:11
A very frustrating trait of the fool is that he is unteachable. He is the epitome of the “Dunce.” Many a godly person has attempted to reason with, teach, or rebuke the fool, only to grow more and more frustrated. He does not learn from others. He is the swine that was offered pearls that Jesus spoke of. Whenever a fool is offered wisdom and instruction, he will reject it or twist it to his own desires. Sadly, Proverbs tells us that no matter how hard one tries to impart wisdom to the fool, such efforts will invariably end in failure. And if we keep on trying to teach a fool, only to have it blow up on us over and over and over again…what does that make us? 🙂 Whenever the fool is disciplined, he resists it. However, the great irony here is that while the fool refuses to be taught and won’t listen to rebuke, he is eager to teach and rebuke others from his own twisted “wisdom.” The fool cannot even learn from his own mistakes. He will often repeat his folly over and over expecting different results each time.
Because they hated knowledge
and did not choose the fear of the Lord,
would have none of my counsel
and despised all my reproof,
therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way,
and have their fill of their own devices.
For the simple are killed by their turning away,
and the complacency of fools destroys them;
but whoever listens to me will dwell secure
and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.” ~ 1:29-33Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse,
and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury.
Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you;
reprove a wise man, and he will love you. ~ 9:7-8A prudent man conceals knowledge,
but the heart of fools proclaims folly. ~ 12:23A fool despises his father’s instruction,
but whoever heeds reproof is prudent. ~ 15:5A scoffer does not like to be reproved;
he will not go to the wise. ~ 15:12A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding
than a hundred blows into a fool. ~ 17:10A fool takes no pleasure in understanding,
but only in expressing his opinion. ~ 18:2Like a dog that returns to his vomit
is a fool who repeats his folly. ~ 26:11Let another praise you, and not your own mouth;
a stranger, and not your own lips. ~ 27:22
Finally, the most obvious trait of the fool is that no one likes him. He is unpleasant to be around. He is divisive. He loves to argue. He is a “know-it-all” and always thinks that he is right whether he is or not. He is good for essentially nothing. He is a detriment to those around him, bad company corrupts good character after all. He causes suffering for his parents and for society around him. He is a disaster wherever he goes. He confuses truth, messes with peoples understanding, uses deception, and hinders the understanding of others. He is a gossip, a slanderer, and he stirs up dissension and anger.
A wise son makes a glad father,
but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother. ~ 10:1The wise lay up knowledge,
but the mouth of a fool brings ruin near. ~ 10:14Leave the presence of a fool,
for there you do not meet words of knowledge. ~ 14:7A wise son makes a glad father,
but a foolish man despises his mother. ~ 15:20Let a man meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs
rather than a fool in his folly. ~ 17:12A fool’s lips walk into a fight,
and his mouth invites a beating. ~ 18:6Drive out a scoffer, and strife will go out,
and quarreling and abuse will cease. ~ 22:10The devising of folly is sin,
and the scoffer is an abomination to mankind. ~ 24:9Scoffers set a city aflame,
but the wise turn away wrath. ~ 29:8
I realize that the fool will not learn from this, even though he reads it. However, those of us who display foolish traits on occasion, because we all do, can learn from the wisdom contained in the book of Proverbs. As I write this I realize how many foolish traits I display. I am glad that God is gracious, and I pray that he will provide me with the wisdom to overcome my folly. Finally, it is not up to us to “write off” a true fool, because we do not know God’s plan for him. In part three we will look at how we are to treat the foolish person.
I was thinking your last paragraph throughout my reading of your blog. I was also thinking, “am I the only one that will think this way”. I guess I’m not. Thank you.