Wise vs. Foolish

Wise vs. Foolish

By Pastor Russell Henderson

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.

[James 1:22-24 NIV]

This passage is quickly becoming one of my favorite passages in the Bible.  James has some very interesting things to say about a person who only hears the word versus a person who follows up his hearing with action.  Notice how he describes a “hearer only” person:  “[He] is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and….immediately forgets what he looks like”.  If I were to label that person in today’s language I would call him D-U-M-B.  Oh, but don’t be so quick to criticize me.  Look at what Jesus had to say about the same man.

But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."

 [Matthew 7:26-27 NIV]

Jesus called the same type of person foolish.  The Greek word for “foolish” is moros.  It’s where we get our English word “moron”.  We could never imagine Jesus calling someone a moron, but that’s exactly what he did.  You see the foolish person does things his own way.  He hears the instructions, but he is so caught up in his own arrogance and pride that he feels he can do it better.

The foolish man in Jesus’ parable above said, “What difference does it make if I build on the rock or on the sand?  I’ll reinforce the walls.  I’ll give it a strong roof.  Nothing will be able to harm my house.”  But Jesus said that his house fell with a great crash.  It didn’t just fall; it was completely destroyed.  All of this because he refused to listen to instruction.

Proverbs 12:1b says it this way, “…He who hates correction is stupid.” The bible is full of very harsh language toward the person who refuses to put the word of God into action.  If you read Jesus’ teachings further, many of his parables deal with foolish people.  And unfortunately the fate of these people is always spiritual death, in other words – Hell.

Jesus asked the question in Luke 6:46, “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”  Jesus was actually saying, “If you are not going to be obedient to my word, you are mistaken if you think that I’m the Lord of your life.”  Now go back to James 1:22.  Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.  This deception that James is referring to is that many people think they are in a right relationship with the Lord just because they go to church, watch Christian TV or read the bible.  But these passages make it clear that your salvation is not complete unless you are actively putting God’s word into practice.

There is good news, however.  Jesus also talked about the person who hears the word and does what it says.  He calls that person wise, and Jesus always equates wisdom with salvation.  The wise person is stable; he will not fall when the storm is raging.  His faith is sure and solid.  The wise person can be confident in his salvation. He can be sure that God’s hand of blessing is upon him.  That person is bearing fruit, and God always blesses fruit bearers.

So, choose today who you will be.  Will you be foolish – not being obedient to the word of God?  Or will you be wise and obedient – bearing much fruit?