THE FOOL WITHIN ME?

Sunday’s Monday

Have you heard or read, Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me? It is an old saying that simply means, if someone takes advantage of me twice, I only have myself to blame. The reasoning behind this saying is that once someone has shown himself to be deceptive, you should not be surprised when he again shows himself to be deceptive. The bible warns of this in Proverbs 26:11 (NLT), As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his foolishness. As a whole, we are notorious for pattern living, simply because it takes little thought and less effort. Pattern, in this case, refers to habitual living, doing things the same way every time, or having a definite predictability in your thought processes, lifestyle, and attitude. This along with a healthy dose of pride can cause people to have a real tendency to disagree with anything or anyone that challenges their way of thinking and doing. People of habitual lifestyles most always perceive suggestions of correction as a personal attack on their intelligence. This is where they display their foolishness as their flesh becomes their fooler. Yes! The biggest fooler or con artist on this planet resides with each of us. Our flesh has the overpowering charm to convince us of what people don’t know won’t and can’t hurt us, and that power, money, and possession brings abundant happiness. Many seek things that give us power, possessions, and notoriety. We often find ourselves living Proverbs 18:2 (NLT), Fools have no interest in understanding; they only want to air their own opinions.

I know growing up, I was a hardheaded young man that couldn’t see the need for too much education. Everyone that I knew at that age, who had money, had no diplomas hanging on their walls, in which my flesh convinced me that I didn’t need diplomas to be successful either. But over the years I found this scripture to be true, Proverbs 14:8 (NLT), The prudent understand where they are going, but fools deceive themselves. A while back I read this quote by Charles Spurgeon, “Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom.” This proves my point, I thought I knew what was best for me and fooled myself into believing I was a wise man. In plainer terms, I knew enough to take a bucket to the barn, but I wasn’t wise enough to know what size bucket it would take! That cow gave more than a gallon of milk. I fooled myself into thinking I was prepared for the task and found myself to be a fool. Just as I dropped out of public school only to find myself enrolled in the world's school of hard knocks. Ouch!

Sadly, many find themselves making excuses, blaming others, rationalizing along with a host of other tricks convincing themselves there is no need of self-confrontation, everything is right on track. Because they had rather live miserable than to admit they are wrong. I know this is an ego, and pride thing (because I’ve been there), and the cost some are paying to be the way they are, is beyond unimaginable. Some suffer a lifetime of being the fool which leads them to hate self and life in general. Yet they continue the charade because they have no understanding of Proverbs 18:3 (NLT), Doing wrong leads to disgrace, and scandalous behavior brings contempt. The known comfort of misery is more desirable than the fear of unknown change. Honestly, after reading this do you think you can still enjoy living a fool's life? STOP what you’re doing, DROP to your knees and PRAY for spiritual understanding! It worked for me!!

There is a choice, once anyone gets fed up with their circumstances and become sick of being the fool, they can turn to God and ask Him from a sincere heart to expose the tricks of our flesh and bring our self-inflicted temptations in view of right thinking. God will help us understand that our free will grants each of us the ability to be the world’s biggest fool and its greatest fooler at the same time, in that we can con ourselves into virtually anything that is self-centered, and self-serving! This is why the inspired word of God tells us in Proverbs 1:5-6 (NLT), 5 Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. Let those with understanding receive guidance 6 by exploring the meaning in these proverbs and parables, the words of the wise, and their riddles. I believe we all can find common ground in my next thought; life is too short to be the fool because there is no do overs at its end!

Father, I pray every eye that sees this and every mind that reads this desire an understanding of you word. Proverbs 1:7 (NLT), Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. Help us Lord; to walk through this world with you. Father, please keep every reader safe and well. Amen

HAVE A BLESSED WEEK BY BEING A BLESSING TO OTHERS!

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