"When the Fool Walks"

“Even when the fool walks on the road, he lacks sense, and he says to everyone that he is a fool.” (Ecclesiastes 10:3 ESV)

Do you know this person, or are you this person? They are the ones who reveal their ignorance every time they open their mouth. They are crude, rude, and believe they know most things and will tell you so. They are typically very angry people and blame their life’s troubles on those around them. Difficult to deal with, in most cases they become isolated from friends and family because no one wants to deal with them. It is very sad; however, it is self-imposed isolation, as they are caught in a web of self-deception and sin.

Steeped deeply in sin, their unrepentant heart clouds their eyes, their ears, and their judgment. Solomon wrote, “The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it.” (Proverbs 22:3) When one recognizes their sin, it is frightening, and it brings on a crushing weight knowing they are condemned without a Savior. Quite different from the Christians who see the danger and seek to remove themselves from in through their repentance before God.

The sinful heart self-deceives. The lost soul should look back at their life. In most cases, every decision made was sinful in nature, and its effects continue into their future. Substance abuse, adultery, self-centeredness, and coveting are no doubt part of this lifestyle, and it is self-destructive.

This person is exactly like God described Israel to Jeremiah: “For my people are foolish; they know me not; they are stupid children; they have no understanding. They are ‘wise’—in doing evil! But how to do good they know not.” (Jeremiah 4:22) These people will never be saved until they are touched by God, and for that to happen, a seed must be planted; the gospel must be spoken.

Many will try to be peacekeepers on their behalf, and only make matters worse, for we know Jesus said, “Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law." This person lives in complete darkness. There is no light, and the light of the gospel is either misunderstood or has been completely cast aside. So, what can one do?

If you are a Christian, you must be bold. Ignoring the chance of confrontation, anger, and further alienation, you must give this person the gospel; the seed must be planted. We cannot change a heart of stone; only God has the power to do this miracle. Most likely this person has been forgiven over and over and rightly so, as we know this as Christ told Peter, “Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times. (Matthew 18:21-22)

If you are being called by God to confront the sins of this person, do it. It may be the only time God calls you, and you must answer Him. Jesus said, “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.  If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Confront the sin of your brother or sister; you may not get past that. Tell them they have been forgiven by many, but their hearts have not changed, and their sin is clear to everyone. Try bringing another who knows them; they may not have church, so you do what you can. You can forgive a person, a friend, or even a family member, but as Christ said, if they refuse to listen, treat them as an outcast, for their sin will constantly infiltrate your life. Lastly, pray for them. Pray for God’s intervention, and if you have given them the seed of the gospel, perhaps their name is in the Lamb’s Book of Life, and they will come to God.

Give the Gospel, and maybe you will be the vessel through which God will convert the next sinner to a saint.

Grace and Peace.