Solomon
likens the words of a fool to a man who has one leg shorter than the other. Do
you trust a lame to run or dance in a competition? You won’t! You will get
someone who is fitter and who really knows how to run or dance. Yet, why would
you want to listen to the words of a fool? Why would you pay to listen to a
fool? Solomon wrote: “Like a lame man's legs, which hang useless, is a
proverb in the mouth of fools” (Pro 26:7, ESV).
Fools
should be taught and not teach. They should not try to be teachers. A fool
using parables or proverbs to teach wisdom is absurd, distorted, contradictory,
and unprofitable; it is like a lame person trying to run or dance.
There
are two ways of dealing with a fool:
1.
Pro 26:4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be
like unto him.
“Do
not lower yourself to the fool’s level by answering his silly questions or
arguing with him as if he were a sensible man.” (Pulpit Comm). Paul
concurred: ““But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do
gender strifes” (2 Tim.2:23).
Because
a fool despises wisdom and correction, the fool will not listen to wise
reasoning. He will become angry and abusive. You end up in heated argument with
him. When others see the two of you arguing nonsensically, they will say: “Why
is this silly fellow arguing with a fool?” What have you done? You are
answering a fool according to his folly. It means you are becoming like him;
you are behaving like him too.
2.
Pro 26:5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his
own conceit.
The
other way to cope with a fool is to answer him the way he spoke to you. The
phrase “according to his folly” in verse 5, tells us that there are times when
a fool has to be addressed so that his foolishness will not go unchallenged. In
this sense “answering him according to his folly” means to expose the
foolishness of his words, rebuking him on the basis of his folly so he will see
the idiocy of his words and reasoning. Our “answer” in this case is to be one of
reproof, showing him the truth so he might see the foolishness of his words in
the light of reason.
Ever
tried to reason the truth with a fool? How did you feel? You get irritated
trying to convince a fool of his foolishness. His forms of reasoning are often
irrational, illogical, slanted, and contradictory. He would not be able to
understand the truth. He would lean to one side or the other like a lame man.
Proverbs
has much to say about fools. They despise wisdom (Pro 1:7; 10:21, 23:9); they
are right in their own eyes (Pro 12:15); they are deceitful (Pro 14:8) and
scornful (Pro 10:23, 14:9). The wise are also given instruction on how to deal
with fools in Proverbs. Instructing a fool is pointless because his speech is
full of foolishness (Pro 15:2, 14) and he does not want wisdom and
understanding (Pro 18:2).
Have
you tried reasoning with one who believed a false doctrine about the truth? How
did you feel? You felt tired and you might even say you are wasting your time.
Still, even though he will most likely despise and reject the wisdom (truth)
offered to him, we are to make the attempt, both for the sake of the truth
which is always to be declared, and for the sake of those listening, that they
may see the difference between truth and error and be instructed. We are not to
answer him “according to his folly” but according to the truth.
Therefore,
as it is best for a lame man to keep his seat, so it is best for a fool to keep
his tongue. Their words and reasoning are as unequal as the legs of a lame
person. Do not give him an audience; why should you listen to the words of a
fool? Why would you want to listen to the preaching of a false teacher?
Let
us be wise and understand what the truth is so that we do not fall into the
trap of a fool and follow in his error. “These were more noble than those in
Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and
searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so” (Acts 17:11).
Jimmy Lau
Psa
119:97 Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.
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