By Joe Slater
I was seven years old when Perry Como wistfully sang, “What kind of fool am I?” It seems romantic love escaped him (according to the song, anyway). I can’t solve his problem, but I’ll borrow his question!
Scripture speaks of several kinds of fools. For now, let’s consider three. First is the fool who denies God’s very existence. David wrote, “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God’” (Psalm 14:1). That absurd remark fits both facets of the Biblical word “fool.” First, it shows a total lack of understanding of the abundant evidence for God’s existence. “Since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Deity, so that they are without excuse” (Romans 1:20). But the Bible also uses fool to describe one who behaves immorally. In candid moments, some have admitted that they reject God’s existence because they want complete sexual freedom.
A materialistic fool may “believe” in God, but his
behavior doesn’t show it. The rich fool (Luke 12:16-21) stored up wealth for himself but was “not rich toward God.” He lived with this earthly life as his only concern. Another rich man in Luke 16 behaved similarly and ended up in torment when he died. A fool indeed!
Rather than being a materialist fool or a fool who denies God, let me encourage you to be “fools for Christ’s sake” (1 Corinthians 4:10). Unbelievers, and even marginal believers, look upon dedicated Christians as fools. “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing” (1 Corinthians 1:18). But take heart! “Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?” (v. 20). Trust Christ! Obey Christ! Be a “fool” for the sake of Christ!
I was seven years old when Perry Como wistfully sang, “What kind of fool am I?” It seems romantic love escaped him (according to the song, anyway). I can’t solve his problem, but I’ll borrow his question!
Scripture speaks of several kinds of fools. For now, let’s consider three. First is the fool who denies God’s very existence. David wrote, “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God’” (Psalm 14:1). That absurd remark fits both facets of the Biblical word “fool.” First, it shows a total lack of understanding of the abundant evidence for God’s existence. “Since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Deity, so that they are without excuse” (Romans 1:20). But the Bible also uses fool to describe one who behaves immorally. In candid moments, some have admitted that they reject God’s existence because they want complete sexual freedom.
A materialistic fool may “believe” in God, but his
behavior doesn’t show it. The rich fool (Luke 12:16-21) stored up wealth for himself but was “not rich toward God.” He lived with this earthly life as his only concern. Another rich man in Luke 16 behaved similarly and ended up in torment when he died. A fool indeed!
Rather than being a materialist fool or a fool who denies God, let me encourage you to be “fools for Christ’s sake” (1 Corinthians 4:10). Unbelievers, and even marginal believers, look upon dedicated Christians as fools. “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing” (1 Corinthians 1:18). But take heart! “Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?” (v. 20). Trust Christ! Obey Christ! Be a “fool” for the sake of Christ!
- Joe Slater serves as minister of the Church of Christ in
Justin, TX. He may be contacted through the congregation's
website: http://justinchurchofchrist.com
No comments:
Post a Comment