A Fool's Lips

Proverbs 26:5 -6; 11-19 NIV

Answer a fool according to his folly,
    or he will be wise in his own eyes.
Sending a message by the hands of a fool
    is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison.
 As a dog returns to its vomit,
    so fools repeat their folly.
Do you see a person wise in their own eyes?
    There is more hope for a fool than for them.

A sluggard says, “There’s a lion in the road,
    a fierce lion roaming the streets!”
As a door turns on its hinges,
    so a sluggard turns on his bed.
A sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
    he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.
A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes
    than seven people who answer discreetly.

Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears
    is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own.

Like a maniac shooting
    flaming arrows of death
is one who deceives their neighbor
    and says, “I was only joking!”

Just totally disturbing to read the nasty comments about the victims of the mass shooting in Las Vegas. It is unbelievable to me that anyone could have such a lack of empathy! Yet, those comments are out there. Thankfully there are not too many of them; but, enough to realize how foolishly hateful some people are in this world.

Proverbs 26 warns us of the downfalls of being a fool, not just a fool, but a lazy fool with deceitful lips. It also warns us to be careful when it comes to trusting a person who is foolhardy. He or she should not be honored for their ways. They should not be lifted up. It would be foolish for us to enable them to continue in their ways.

What then should we do with the one who acts foolishly? "Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes." (Prov 26:5 NIV) Speak the truth, not rashly or harshly. But, with love; correct them, guide them, teach them the way in which they should go. Teach them to honor and respect others so that others may live pleasant and peaceful lives and not on edge when they are around. Teach them that it is better for everyone to live in peace than to be constantly starting quarrels. It is better to live in peace than to continue instigating division.

There are very few things that bother me more than to hear someone lying to or insulting another person and then when the person responds in a hurt manner, the first person will say "JK," just kidding.  Jokes that hurt other people are not funny. They are not jokes! "Like a maniac shooting flaming arrows of death is one who deceives their neighbor and says, “I was only joking!”  (Prov 26:18-19)

The wise person will respect others for who they are. They will be kind, not acting out of anger or revenge. But, they will also speak the truth to the one who is acting in a foolish, hurtful manner. They are unable to empathize with anyone other than those who agree with their foolhardiness. Freedom does not give us the right to hurt others. Freedom is given so that we can all live in peace, reconciled to one another. The foolish one does not comprehend this living in peace. They much prefer to cause divisiveness by feeding their foolish egos.

May God be with all the victims and families of the horrible massacre in Las Vegas. May God help us all to learn to empathize with and love one another.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Paranoia or Peace?

Then Saul’s anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said to him, “You son of a perverse, rebellious woman, do I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame, and to the shame of your mother’s nakedness? For as long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, neither you nor your kingdom shall be established. Therefore send and bring him to me, for he shall surely die.” Then Jonathan answered Saul his father, “Why should he be put to death? What has he done?” But Saul hurled his spear at him to strike him. So Jonathan knew that his father was determined to put David to death.  1 Sam 20:30-33 NIV

Saul was more than a little paranoid. He was afraid that David wanted him dead. He was unreasonably afraid. David did not want him dead. David did not want his throne. But, Saul was afraid and so his anger consumed his life. 

This morning we hear on the news that there were more than fifty people killed and over two hundred injured by a lone shooter in Las Vegas. What could possibly stir up a person to this kind of anger? I cannot help but think that paranoia had something to do with this kind of tragedy. Paranoia is not only a mental health problem; but, a spiritual problem, as well. It is a serious symptom of not trusting the Lord or His promises to us. 

When we think that others, even the whole world is out to get us, paranoia can set in. Paranoia begets depression. It often also begets anger. It's sets off in us a self-defense mechanism - the really stinking thinking that we have to get them before they get us. That was Saul's thinking as he wallowed in his own paranoia and fear. Paranoia, fear, and anger are to be avoided at all costs. Do not let yourself be consumed by them. We are to live reconciled to God and one another through Christ Jesus. Live life in Christ! Live in the knowledge that nothing in this world can take away your salvation. Nothing can take away your peace; unless you let it. What have we to fear? We have eternal life in the presence of God Almighty. What can be greater than that?

God's Peace be with you all - Pr. J