Fools and their ways
(Verses 3 to 12 of Chapter 26 in Proverbs are clubbed together).
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back (Proverbs 26:3).Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him (Proverbs 26:4).
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit (Proverbs 26:5).
He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage (Proverbs 26:6).
The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools (Proverbs 26:7).
As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool (Proverbs 26:8).
As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouths of fools (Proverbs 26:9).
The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors (Proverbs 26:10).
As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly (Proverbs 26:11).
Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him (Proverbs 26:12).
A fool deserves a rod for all his folly. A foolish decision taken without examining its merits and demerits leads to disaster. The punishment for such foolishness has to be harsh so that such a foolish decision should not be taken in future. A whip for the horse makes it go straight. A bridle for the ass takes it in the right path. Rebuke for a foolish man has to be harsh.
We should learn how to deal with a fool when he speaks to you. At times, some people put some foolish questions to you to entangle you in a dispute. Do not answer him according to his folly. It is better to keep silence before him. If he asks you a foolish question with an ulterior motive, answer him back in the same foolish manner. If you answer him in the same foolish manner, he will become wise in his own eyes. In other words, he will learn to be wise. Solomon exhorts us to answer not a fool and then to answer him. You should know when to answer him or when to not answer (keep silence), depending upon the circumstances.
A messenger should send his message through the hand of a fool. It is better for him to cut off his feet rather than to use the services of a fool who cannot be trusted for conveying the message. The carrier of a message is as important as the messenger. The message gets diluted or falsified when the carrier is not faithful to the messenger. Nowadays, there are good news reporters but the channels or the newspapers carrying such messages do not convey their messages in original form. The reporters are forced to falsify their reports to suit the desires of the carriers.
A parable or a story to be conveyed through the mouth of a fool gets distorted. The legs of a lame are not equal. Similarly, the parable conveyed by the hand or the mouth of a fool does not become perfect like the legs of a lame person when it reaches the desired destination. A journalist has to be careful in ensuring that his message in original form reaches the audience without being diluted in its transit by the hand or the mouth of a fool.
Do not give honour to a fool. The stone in a sling does not remain in the sling but goes away once it is thrown. Likewise, the honour given to a fool does not last long. Do not depend upon the honor given to a fool. The fool may be a millionaire. The world gives him honour because of his money, not because of his wisdom.
The parable in the mouth of fools is also likened to a thorn pierceing the hand of a drunkard. The drunkard does not feel the pain of a thorn in his flesh. A fool also does not feel the pain or the afflictions of those people who were affected by his foolishness.
The great God rewards the fool and the transgressors who have worked with the fool. It is better for a truthful man not to associate himself with a fool in any business. When God punishes the fool, those who work with him also get rewarded and punished by God.
As the dog returns to its vomit, a fool returns to his folly. The fool who has not learnt to be honest or faithful cannot be corrected. Even if he pretends to be innocent or good, his true color is revealed ultimately. He returns to his folly even he has done some charity or good deeds just to fool the people around him. In this passage, a fool is considered as one who is not honest or faithful. If a fool has to become wise, he has to accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour. Wisdom comes from above.
A man may look wise in his own eyes but he is not. He is deceived. But there is more hope of a fool than this man. A fool may get converted in his soul and become wise. But a prideful man who is wise in his own conceit is worse than a fool.
Next.....Slothful persons