" The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit." - Proverbs 14:8
"Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour." - Proverbs 14:9
Foolishness, Mocking, Sin and Favor
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Last week, as we discussed foolishness, we dove deep into the value of "Understanding" ---- connecting the dots --between-- things.
If A, why B, or why not B? Is there a correlation between A and B at all?
This is the essence of the scientifc method... to ask the question, design an experiment to test a hypothesis, conduct the experiment and see if the facts line up with the theory.
Documenting/ writing down the evidence that proves the case, builds the foundation for the next level of understanding, and it is how human civlilzation has gone from drawings on cave walls to the "meta-verse"!
Key to the method, is the handling of the TRUTH!
Observed reality and facts,must support the theory, not just once, but EVERY TIME, ---if--- the theory is to be relied upon....just like we rely upon the science of flight when we trust an airline to get us safely from point A to point B. We can't have the theory be right half the time!!!!
Common sense right?
The wisdom of the prudent, is to ---understand--- the path he/she/they are upon, as spiritual beings that are having a physical experience.
This means understanding the world around us, its laws and principles, and figuring out how best to live in sustainable harmony with our environment and fellow humans --- and we can't do that, without confronting the TRUTH!
Folly, is believing a lie. Foolishness is continuing to believe in a lie, fully knowing, that the agenda of any lie is ALWAYS to move away from the TRUTH!
So --- what can we believe?
Well, we have the evidence of our senses, this evidence is confirmed by the experiences of our fellow human beings, we have experience & history, and we we inhabit a very interesting and unique planet, in a universe we are just getting to know. We haven't figured out what makes us tick spiritually yet, but we are getting very close to figuring out the physical and mental bits..... not bad at all!
How are we doing morally?
Hmmmm..... not that great. We have an appreciation for the rule of Law, but barring some general agreement, disagree on specifics based on religion, culture, and a whole lot of other factors. Again, we are pretty good with physical and mental laws, but struggle when it comes to the spiritual/moral kind....punting that over to the domain of "religion" ... which domain ranges from truly charitable and well meaning works to truly horrific carnage in the name of God.
So the understanding question is ... is there a set of spiritual Laws that we should be cognizant of ... and is there a spiritual source of this Law?
The consensus across humanity (collectively) is that answer is yes. We, as spiritual creatures, are conscious of an internal moral imperative ( aka CONSCIENCE) , as well an awareness that moral actions have physical, mental, and moral consquences!!
That is the SIN the Bible warns about. The 10 commandments summarize it quite neatly. You can see the Spiritual Law, and the Law Giver, in plain sight... and HE is telling us, that SIN (violating spiritual laws) is incompatible with the Spiritual reality that is HIM.
Living a largely sinless life is not hard, even though living a completely sinless life is impossible!
Love God, love your fellow man, live in peace with all ----- that is something that is within the grasp of every human being (in general) , though we may fail in specific instances.
Fools make a mock at sin, but among the righteous, there is favor.
Our second text bookends, and concludes our discussion on foolishness. It connects fools to mockers, scoffers, liars.... all those that practice treachery and a deviation from the truth.
Sticking with what is right and true is righteousness, and is THE WAY to get favor with God and Man!
Not acknowledging Sin, or dodging our responsibility in encouraging/enabling/bringing into existence with our actions --- sinful and foolish ideas ----- or moaning and blaming God for the consequences of OUR actions ... is foolishness in the extreme, and deceitful when you get right down to it. God has given us everything we need to conquer sin, we just keep encouraging it, and enabling it, in our lives!!!
"Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him." - John 11:9,10
The night is coming when truth will be a precious commodity in the world around us. In that night, WE are responsible to carry our OWN LIGHT with us, else we are going to fall and hurt ourselves terribly.
" Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as ---fools----, but as wise,
Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Wherefore be ye not unwise, but -----understanding------ what the will of the Lord is.
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
(We will do a series on MUSIC !! :-))
Giving thanks -------always---------- for ---------all things--------- unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
----Submitting yourselves ---one to ----another in the ----fear of God."
- Eph: 5:14-21
Hallelujah!