The majority of Proverbs 26 details foolish behavior with the warning to stay away from it.
Fools are said to be:
- Without honor
- Deserving of discipline
- Not worth answering
- Self-destructive
- Quarrelsome
- Not trustworthy
- A curse on their boss
- Meddlers
- Deceivers
- Trapped in their folly
Man, we see a lot of foolish behavior around us today, don’t we? We certainly see the results of foolish behavior playing out around us. It is great to know the Bible calls attention to foolishness. But there is one verse that stands out from these warnings. I think it is a verse that could benefit our current political and social climate today. The verse reads:
“Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.” – Proverbs 26:12
Could this be plaguing mankind even more? Isn’t this prideful attitude at the root of every sin that Jesus paid for on the cross?
I think this is what drives most of the animosity today, whether the heated subject is race, religion or politics.
We think we know better than God.
If we think we know better than God, how farfetched is it to think we know better than our fellow man or woman?
We see in the Bible the folly of pride:
“When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.” – Proverbs 11:2
“One’s pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.” – Proverbs 29:23
“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” – Proverbs 16:18
“For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.” – Galatians 6:3
“Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.” – Proverbs 27:2
But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” – James 4:6
“Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” – Philippians 2:3
Before we blast off that Twitter or Facebook post, before we honk that horn, before we criticize that friend, colleague, peer or celebrity either to their face or behind their back, let’s consider one thing, however foolish they may appear or actually be, the moment we esteem ourselves better than them, we’ve become worse than fools.
That’s the moment we forgot Christ died for our sins, too.
What a terrible place to be.
Remain thankful for His mercy.
Remain open to His grace.
There’s hope for us, then.
21 Days of Proverbs
Proverbs 1
Proverbs 2
Proverbs 3
Proverbs 4
Proverbs 5-7
Proverbs 8
Proverbs 9
Proverbs 10
Proverbs 11
Proverbs 12-15
Proverbs 16
Proverbs 17-19
Proverbs 19-23
Proverbs 24
Proverbs 25
Proverbs 26
Proverbs 27
Proverbs 28
Proverbs 29
Proverbs 30
Proverbs 31
