The Fool’s Heart
How would you describe a fool? And what does it mean to be foolish?
Well, I want to share a true story that’ll answer those questions. Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada, and my husband Ken and I have a dear friend in his mid-70s. Dennis and his wife are wonderful Christians, and their six adult children all have families of their own. Now, Dennis is rather well-off, and so he recently took his entire family, including grandkids, on a sailboat vacation. As you’d guess, it had to be a pretty big sailboat! And when they returned, Ken excitedly asked how it went. “Fine,” Dennis said, “except for one awful incident.” Then he sadly told us about a problem he had on vacation with his 41-year-old son. While they were sailing, his son – who should know better – he was back in the stern of the boat and, trying to be funny, he made what frankly was an obscene gesture to a group passing by on a cabin cruiser. Dennis said, “I couldn’t believe it. And what’s really sad is that one of his own children told me about it; it was so stupid, so foolish of my son to do such a thing!”
Dennis was spot-on in saying that. Because that story, it perfectly describes a fool. And the Bible is full of stories, especially in the book of Proverbs, where time and again, God warns us not to be foolish. Now, when the Bible uses that word fool or foolish, it’s not describing a silly person. Foolish behavior is not silly. It’s far more serious. Rather, a fool – and here comes the definition – a fool is someone who lives as though God does not exist. A fool takes brash and rebellious and reckless chances. A fool thinks there’s no repercussions. Well, there are. For one thing, the reputation of Dennis’ 41-year-old son, a husband and a father who’s raising his own kids – that reputation’s been damaged. His own kids witnessed his reckless behavior, and children do not forget those things lightly. There are always consequences when we act foolishly. But the most foolish thing we could do?
Well, Psalm 14:1 puts it this way, “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.'” Now, that’s not saying, “The stupid person says in his heart, ‘There is no God.'” It’s not about lack of intelligence. There are a lot of intelligent people who say in their heart, “Yeah, sure, there might be a God who exists, just so He minds His own business; just so He keeps His nose out of my affairs. No, it’s not unintelligent people who say in their hearts there is no God. It is sinful people who say in their heart there is no God. Remember, a fool is someone who lives as though the Lord does not exist – a fool does not care about accountability, morality, or consequences for the actions.
Our friend Dennis has talked to his son about this incident, but he didn’t get very far. He tried to appeal to his son using the Bible, because only Scripture can keep people from being foolish; but the irony is, fools despise even Scripture. So, the best course of action for Dennis is prayer. 2 Corinthians chapter 10 says that prayer has divine power to tear down every presumption in defiance of the Lord. Prayer can demolish; it can overthrow every arrogant reckoning. Prayer is a fight to capture every thought until it acknowledges the authority of Christ. And so Dennis believes that one day his son will say in his heart, “There is a God and I want to follow Him and honor Him.” So, please, don’t be like that reckless son. Do not act as though God does not care. Do not be a fool. For there is a God and He is watching.
And one more thing. We here at Joni and Friends would love to pray for you in your troubles. So, share with us your prayer need today at joniradio.org. Again, that’s joniradio.org.
© Joni and Friends
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Is God Listening?
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