Everyone likes to think of himself/herself as being a wise and reasonable person. You may be thinking that you look at all the sides before making a decision and that you use sound logic. The worst thing you can do is to determine whether or not you are a fool on your own personal perspective. Think for a second how other people view you. Are you constantly disagreeing with other Christians whom you know to be mature and have a close walk with Christ? Are you determined that when you are right you are right regardless of what others say? It is always a good idea to “closely” take a step back and evaluate how others view you.
Everyone likes it when someone comments that you made a wise decision. Your head swells and your mind gets foggy as you bask in that comment. C. C. Colton has this to say about the difference between the wise person and the fool: “The wise man has his follies no less than the fool, but herein lies the difference—the follies of the fool are known to the world, but are hidden from himself; the follies of the wise man are known to himself, but hidden from the world.” If you are a fool, you probably do not think that you are. One way to realize if you are a fool or not is the response you get from others. How do you measure up?
The book of Proverbs in the Scriptures has a whole lot to say about the fool. If you are serious about knowing more about how the fool thinks and approaches life, a study of Proverbs is just the ticket. In talking about the fool in the very first chapter it has this to say: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction” (v. 7). A fool is one who will “despise wisdom and instruction” which means that the fool will not listen to others who give him/her wise counsel or information that may be contrary to their way of seeing things. This verse also talks of the remedy to being foolish—“fear the Lord.” This is not talking about a fear of God punishing you, but is talking about having a reverential respect for God, and a willingness to obey God regardless of the outcome.
To know a fool or are you a fool is the question. The Lord Jesus Christ gives you the ability to live above being a fool. Stay close to Christ to avoid being a fool, otherwise your foolish behavior will be known to everyone around you but hidden from yourself. Are you a fool?
