This week we are preaching on the men in the Book of Proverbs.  Today we will be discussing the foolish man.  The foolish man: 

Speaks foolishly – Prov 29:11 – a fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.  The foolish man has no filter.  With him it’s just talk, talk, talk until he says something that he thinks sounds profound.  He’s talking without thinking.  The wise man, by contrast, keeps it in until he knows what to say.  Then he says the right thing at the right time. 

Prov 10:8 – a prating fool shall fall.  To prate is to talk incessantly.  A fool who’s always talking is never listening. Therefore, in time, he falls.  And if you try to contend with him, you will be wasting your breath.  Prov 29:9 – if a wise man contendeth with a foolish man, whether he rage or laugh, there is no rest.  Prov 14:16 – the fool rageth, and is confident.  He’s a confident fool.

The best thing for you to do is to move on.  Prov 14:7 – go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.  He doesn’t know what he’s talking about.  Fools go to the internet looking for people to engage.  When you reply, you get a response that you know is from a fool.  If you continue the conversation, you’re the fool.  Why are you trying to convince someone who is already convinced that he’s right and you’re wrong?

The best thing for the fool to do is hush.  Prov 17:28 – even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise.  People will respect you more for not speaking.  Prov 24:7 – wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.  If you don’t know what you’re talking about, don’t participate in the conversation.  Instead, listen and learn. 

He acts foolishly – Prov 12:15 – the way of a fool is right in his own eyes.  He’s going to do foolish things because he thinks he’s right.  And when he finds out he’s wrong, he just does it again.  Prov 26:11 – as a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.  He doesn’t learn from good counsel and he doesn’t learn from his mistakes.  Fools never learn.  Wise men, at least, learn from their mistakes.

And the trouble is that, when he’s an older fool, you can’t get the foolishness out of him.  Prov 27:22 – though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him.   If you ever hope to get the foolishness out of him, you’re going to have to do it when he is a child.  Prov 22:15 foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.  If you wait till he’s older, his foolishness isn’t coming out.  The object should be to correct him when he’s young.  The trouble with this is Prov 15:5 – a fool despiseth his father’s instruction and Prov 15:20 – a foolish man despiseth his mother.  A kid like that is nearly hopeless. 

He spends foolishly – Prov 21:20 – there is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.  The foolish man has nothing because he won’t save anything.  He borrows and spends until he is broke.  You must be faithful with giving to the Lord and you must be responsible to save something out of your earnings.  A foolish man won’t do either.

Conclusion: we hope you’re not a foolish man.  But if you are, you see yourself in these verses.  You must quit speaking, acting and spending like a fool.  Get some wisdom.