Peter Marshall was the chaplain of the United States Senate from 1947 until his untimely death in 1949. Marshall was loved for his sermons and especially for his prayers that cut to the heart of every issue. In one of his brief Senate prayers, Marshall asked, “Save us from hotheads that would lead us to act foolishly, and from cold feet that would keep us from acting at all.”
We all deal with fools. They are in our workplaces, neighborhoods, and even our homes. Proverbs 18:2 says, “ A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, only expressing his opinion.” If we aren’t careful, dealing with a fool can consume too much of our time and energy because fools often make themselves the focus of attention.
Marshall understood that without divine wisdom, the fools in our life have the potential to make us act foolishly or paralyze our progress. God knew we’d encounter fools, and therefore, the Bible has a lot to say about them. A quick word search will show that the Bible mentions the word “fool” or “foolish” over 200 times. The Scriptures go to great lengths to provide a character description of a fool. Here are just a few common traits:
- A fool believes he is always right and refuses to listen to advice (Prov. 12:15).
- A fool causes trouble with his mouth (Prov. 10:14).
- A fool despises wisdom and instruction (Prov. 1:7).
- A fool is complacent and has no desire to make things better (Prov. 1:32).
- A fool says things about other people that aren’t true (Prov. 10:18).
- A fool flaunts his behavior (Prov. 13:16).
- A fool is reckless and careless (Prov. 14:16)
- A fool is quick-tempered (Prov. 14:17).
- A fool says everything he thinks (Prov. 29:11).
For obvious reasons fools are problematic. In relationships, chaos and frustration are often common themes. But the Bible isn’t silent about how to communicate with a fool. Here are four things to consider:
- Choose Your Words Wisely. Remember, wisdom is the opposite of foolishness. A fool will try everything possible to get you to engage in his or her foolishness. Don’t take the bait. Act and speak wisely when you communicate with a fool. James 1:5 says, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” It’s crucial to pray for God’s guidance to deal wisely with fools.
- Don’t Argue With a Fool. Proverbs 29:9 says, “If a wise man has an argument with a fool, the fool only rages and laughs, and there is no quiet.” Arguing with a fool is pointless, and it will only waste time. Proverbs 14:7 goes as far as to say, “Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge.”
- Don’t Escalate the Conversation. We can’t control anyone else’s behavior, but we do have complete control over how we respond. Fools thrive in the midst of arguments, strife, and division. The only way to counteract that behavior is to de-escalate it. Proverbs 15:1 says, “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
- Seek To Grow Wiser. As we grow in our relationship with God, He increases our wisdom (Prov. 9:10). The wiser we become, the healthier our relationships will be. It’s good to ask God to surround us with wise people and provide us with healthy relationships. “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm” (Prov. 13:20).
