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Another April Fool’s Day has come and gone.  Have you ever wondered how a fool thinks?  Sometimes, we play the role of the fool, even without help from anyone.  In Ecclesiastes 7:17, we are exhorted to not be fools.  In Proverbs 17:21, we are told that giving birth to a fool brings sorrow.  In no uncertain terms, the Bible describes the fool.

     How does a fool think?  The fool’s thoughts are base, which means to have or show little or no decency.  A person who is base has corrupt moral standards.  This is especially brought out in Isaiah 32:6, “A fool speaks nonsense, and his heart inclines toward wickedness: To practice ungodliness and to speak error against the Lord, to keep the hungry person unsatisfied and to withhold drink from the thirsty.”  In Hebrew, the word for wickedness is “a’-ven”; good synonyms are “trouble”, “iniquity” and “evil”.  The word stresses the planning and expression of deception.

          The location of base and wicked thoughts is the heart.  An example of someone who may have had base thoughts is Simon the magician.  When Peter reprimanded Simon for his base thoughts, “Peter said to him, ‘May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!  You have no part or portion in this matter, for your heart is not right before God’” (Acts 8:20,21).  The heart includes the person’s innermost being, and it speaks of a person’s personality.

     In Psalm 58:1,2, the Psalmist indicts the evil planning, which occurred in the heart of God’s enemies:  “Do you indeed speak righteousness, O gods?  Do you judge uprightly, O sons of men? No, in heart you work unrighteousness; on earth you weigh out the violence of your hands.”  So it is in the fool’s thoughts and emotions that he schemes and works out the base details of sin.

     A fool has conceited thoughts; he thinks whatever he does is valid and suitable.  Proverbs 12:15 reads, “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes.”  The word “fool” comes from the Greek term “ewil”.  It refers to a hardened, thickheaded person, who thinks his way is right.  The fool’s conceit leads him to reckless abandon:  “A wise man is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is arrogant and careless” (Proverbs 14:16).

     Do you know someone who could be considered a fool?  “He who trusts in himself is a fool” (Proverbs 28:26); “Fools despise wisdom and instruction” Proverbs (1:7); and “A fool does not delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own mind” (Proverbs 18:2).  Double trouble of a fool is his closed mind and his open mouth.  He doesn’t really want to gain knowledge; he only wants to share his own views: “Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words” (Proverbs 23:9). 

     All of us make foolish mistakes.  Jesus Christ told a story about a rich man, who was very productive.  The rich man reasoned within himself, “I’ll sit back and say to myself, ‘Friend, you have enough stored away for years to come.  Now take it easy!  Wine, women, and song for you!’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’ Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God” (Luke 12:19-21). 

     Do you have a relationship with God?  Do you know the Lord?  Have you invited Christ into your life as your Savior and Lord?  How has your walk with the Lord been in recent days? 

     Please join us at Bear Valley Church this Sunday morning as we worship the Lord.  Our services are at 8:15 am, 9:45 am and 11:15 am.  If you live outside of Bear Valley Springs, please call the office at (661) 821-0183 for a gate pass.