Three types of people God calls a fool

I think it necessary to begin by pointing out that there is a big difference between God and man.

Doubtless, there is someone out there who will be quick to point out that Jesus said we are not supposed to call anyone a fool. While this is mostly true, the distinction that needs to be made here is that it is one thing for you or I to use the word, but quite another when God uses it.

It is one thing for people, who cannot see into a person’s heart and therefore rely on what they can see when judging another (which is what name-calling is), to call someone a fool, but quite another for God. God can see into your heart. It is God who knows your thoughts. Before a word leaves your tongue, God not only knows what it will be, but what it was that caused it. Thus, when God pronounces a judgment, it is based on the truth of what a person is, not just on who he or she appears to be.

In addition to this, understand that when God calls someone a fool, he does so because he is the Creator, and as such has a right to judge his creatures. Are you aware that it is not sin for God to end a person’s life? While it is sin for you or I to go out and murder our neighbor, God presides over creation like the kings of old, with absolute authority to take the life he gave. Therefore, not only is it not sin for God to judge one to be a fool, but he must pronounce judgment if he is just — and he is.

Simply put, these are God’s words, not mine.

The first person, then, God calls a fool is the one who says God does not exist. In Psalm 14, we find these words: “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.” Understand what is being said here; these are not words about someone caught up in a false religion.

From the earliest of times, men have worshiped many things called gods because they believed there was something above them. Roman and Greek mythology attest to this. Human and animal sacrifices in cultures around the world attest to this. No, it is not the one who has been misled and deceived who is called a fool, for there is hope that such a one can be shown who is the true God. But for those who, from the depths of their souls, reject the very existence of a Creator is this judgment pronounced.

And why reject the existence of God? Our text says, “They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” In other words, so they can be as wicked and evil as they want to be.

And this leads to our next person mentioned in Proverbs 14, “Fools make a mock at sin.” What this means is to mock what God calls sin. While we can see this by how brash some are in what they are willing to say about themselves on the back window of a car or truck, what interests me is how this attitude is reflected in the church.

What? Did you honestly think fools cannot be found in the Church? Have you ever heard the term “legalism” kicked around? Properly understood, legalism is the attempt to obtain salvation through the keeping of the law; however, this is not generally how it is applied in today’s churches. All you have to do is mention words like “obedience” or “holiness” and you instantly are branded as being legalistic. The truth is that this is a rejection of what God calls sin — and by the very ones who should be forsaking such sin.

The last person God calls a fool is found in Luke 12 and is the person who is not prepared to die. The rich man Jesus speaks of could well be the average businessman here in the Valley whose business has been so successful that he drives the nicest pickup, lives in the biggest house on an airstrip, has a plane and a boat, and a retirement account like Bill Gates’. The problem is that he was not prepared to die.

But there is one catch — verse 21 says that he was not rich toward God. Since salvation cannot be bought, this statement must apply to Christianity. Can you imagine, O Christian, standing before Christ and having him call you a fool because you, of all people, sunk your treasure into this life rather than the God you say you love? Something to think about.

Ron Hamman is pastor of Independent Baptist Church of Wasilla. Contact him at 357-4229 or rghamman@mtaonline.net.