Who Is A “Fool”?

“The wise will inherit honor, but fools get disgrace.” (Proverbs 3:35)

Who or what is a “fool”? In the book of Proverbs during the time of Solomon a fool referred to the person fully opposed to God’s wisdom: His commands, His covenant and His people. And it means the same thing today. A covenant breaker, a law breaker, is a foolish “sinner.” So let’s be clear, we are the fool; or more accurately a fool is every single one of us before turning from a life of sin by God’s grace through faith in Jesus. “Let God be true, and every human being a liar…” (Romans 3:4a) Rather than seeing ourselves as wise, these proverbs about the fool are primarily meant for us to examine the foolishness in our own hearts. Then, as we may think of other foolish people we know besides ourselves, we are wise to remember Jesus’ words: “Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?” (Matthew 7:3) The warnings in Proverbs are still good to remind us to be cautious of others, even as we generously give trust to people. We are wise to hold these two truths in tension. We live in a sinful and broken world. And we are also commanded by Jesus to love our neighbor. We are to be cautious and shrewd. (Matthew 10:16) And yet God’s Word tells us “love always trusts” (1 Corinthians 13:7). Part of wisdom is using discernment case by case as we go through life. We shouldn’t be naive and blindly assume everyone has our good in mind. Neither do we need to be constantly suspicious of people. In addition to all of this, Jesus has given believers the gift of his body, the Church. (1 Corinthians 12:27) So the people of God are a people like no other, and we can love and trust one another in a special way. “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” (Galatians 6:10, emphasis mine) Together in our churches we stand in covenant with God and each other. All those who have turned to trust in Christ have been made into a new creation, (2 Corinthians 5:17) filled with His Spirit (Ephesians 1) and with God’s wisdom written on our hearts (2 Corinthians 3:3). So while Christians may still be sinners they are some of the best fools we will ever meet. If we define a fool as someone opposed to God and His wisdom, then all true Christ followers have been made wise. We no longer fully reject God’s wisdom, though we still sin from time to time. (1 John 1:8) And we see all others as we were before God opened our eyes: as those in desperate need of the same grace and truth.