If a man’s saddle did not have a shine to it, they knew nothing good would come of him.”
–Elmer Kelton (The Day the Cowboys Quit)
“The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way, but the folly of fools is deceit.”
“The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way, but the folly of fools is deceit.”
–Proverbs 14:8 (NKJV)
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Ho-hum, that’s good enough. That’s enough work for the day; it will satisfy the boss. A life of mediocrity, it is one that is to be shunned! When I was teaching it would drive me to frustration (if I let it) to see kids just get by. I often told them the problem is that I want you to make it, to succeed, more than you do. They would give me an apathetic look, they were yawning in their minds knowing that the “spirit of slap” might come upon me if they did it openly.
Ecclesiastes 10 deals with the mediocre person–who is actually a fool. I did a study years ago which I shared on these pages, “How to Live in a Pagan, Apostate, and Foolish World.” That is the world in which we are living. Look and contemplate, remember we are not only to see with our eyes, but also to engage our brains and spirit when we read, at Ecclesiastes 10:1-3 (NKJV)
1 — Dead flies putrefy the perfumer’s ointment and cause it to give off a foul odor; so does a little folly to one respected for wisdom and honor.
2 — A wise man’s heart is at his right hand, but a fool’s heart at his left.
3 — Even when a fool walks along the way, he lacks wisdom, and he shows everyone that he is a fool.
Sometime, when you want to improve your reading, try out Erasmus’ “In Praise of Folly.” In it he points out the foolishness of the many things that people do and believe. Folly is a lack of good sense; a lack of foresight; the failure to realize the consequences of a stupid act before it occurs. A little folly, a little foolishness, can cast a shadow over a once honorable life. A wise man will go God’s way, will seek His direction, but a fool will do what is right in his own eyes.
Have you, as a parent, or as a supervisor/boss every shown someone how to do something or instructed them in how something should be done and then they go back and do it the way they want? They do not heed your advice or instruction–that person is a fool. Get this: fools don’t learn, because fools don’t listen! Look at verse 3, it is easy to identify a fool. They don’t think of the consequences before they act or speak. In fact, they act upon impulse not looking at the whole situation. They practice what so many of our politicians do and those of the woke crowd–they practice SYI (Share Your Ignorance). What was it I read from Fox News? “White House celebrates ‘Lesbian visibility week’ declares Biden.” Then accuses the Republicans of “legislating acts of violence.” Doesn’t that just give you the “spirit of slap”? Fools rushing to folly.
In closing this morning, I want to end with a couple more words regarding a fool.
“A fool has no delight in understanding, but in expressing his own heart.” –Proverbs 18:2 (NKJV)
“A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calls for blows.” –Proverbs 18:6 (NKJV)
See right there, in verse 6, the fool actually calls for the “spirit of slap” to rain down upon him. Don’t be a fool, don’t add an act of folly to your life’s resume. Walk in the way of the Lord, follow His direction and guidance into the way everlasting.
—————————————-
Ho-hum, that’s good enough. That’s enough work for the day; it will satisfy the boss. A life of mediocrity, it is one that is to be shunned! When I was teaching it would drive me to frustration (if I let it) to see kids just get by. I often told them the problem is that I want you to make it, to succeed, more than you do. They would give me an apathetic look, they were yawning in their minds knowing that the “spirit of slap” might come upon me if they did it openly.
Ecclesiastes 10 deals with the mediocre person–who is actually a fool. I did a study years ago which I shared on these pages, “How to Live in a Pagan, Apostate, and Foolish World.” That is the world in which we are living. Look and contemplate, remember we are not only to see with our eyes, but also to engage our brains and spirit when we read, at Ecclesiastes 10:1-3 (NKJV)
1 — Dead flies putrefy the perfumer’s ointment and cause it to give off a foul odor; so does a little folly to one respected for wisdom and honor.
2 — A wise man’s heart is at his right hand, but a fool’s heart at his left.
3 — Even when a fool walks along the way, he lacks wisdom, and he shows everyone that he is a fool.
Sometime, when you want to improve your reading, try out Erasmus’ “In Praise of Folly.” In it he points out the foolishness of the many things that people do and believe. Folly is a lack of good sense; a lack of foresight; the failure to realize the consequences of a stupid act before it occurs. A little folly, a little foolishness, can cast a shadow over a once honorable life. A wise man will go God’s way, will seek His direction, but a fool will do what is right in his own eyes.
Have you, as a parent, or as a supervisor/boss every shown someone how to do something or instructed them in how something should be done and then they go back and do it the way they want? They do not heed your advice or instruction–that person is a fool. Get this: fools don’t learn, because fools don’t listen! Look at verse 3, it is easy to identify a fool. They don’t think of the consequences before they act or speak. In fact, they act upon impulse not looking at the whole situation. They practice what so many of our politicians do and those of the woke crowd–they practice SYI (Share Your Ignorance). What was it I read from Fox News? “White House celebrates ‘Lesbian visibility week’ declares Biden.” Then accuses the Republicans of “legislating acts of violence.” Doesn’t that just give you the “spirit of slap”? Fools rushing to folly.
In closing this morning, I want to end with a couple more words regarding a fool.
“A fool has no delight in understanding, but in expressing his own heart.” –Proverbs 18:2 (NKJV)
“A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calls for blows.” –Proverbs 18:6 (NKJV)
See right there, in verse 6, the fool actually calls for the “spirit of slap” to rain down upon him. Don’t be a fool, don’t add an act of folly to your life’s resume. Walk in the way of the Lord, follow His direction and guidance into the way everlasting.