The Wise and the Fool

12The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but a fool is swallowed by his own lips. 13The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness. 14A fool also multiplies words. Man doesn’t know what will be; and that which will be after him, who can tell him? 15The labor of fools wearies every one of them; for he doesn’t know how to go to the city. 16Woe to you, land, when your king is a child, and your princes eat in the morning! 17Happy are you, land, when your king is the son of nobles, and your princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness! 18By slothfulness the roof sinks in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaks. 19A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes the life glad; and money is the answer for all things. 20Don’t curse the king, no, not in your thoughts; and don’t curse the rich in your bedroom: for a bird of the sky may carry your voice, and that which has wings may tell the matter.

The apostle John confesses that the Word became flesh and lived among us, and that we saw his glory, such glory as of the one and only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth. Christ is of one being with God and equal to him, yet he did not claim that equality; he was the humble one who strove only to obey the will of God. So we must believe with all our hearts that he became flesh to save sinners and took on the work of atonement through the blood of the cross.

In Genesis 22, God commanded Abraham to go to the place he would tell him of, build an altar, and offer his son Isaac as a burnt offering. To obey God’s command, Abraham laid the wood for the burnt offering on Isaac’s back and set out for the land of Moriah. When they reached the place of the altar, he bound Isaac, and at the very moment he was about to offer him up, the urgent voice of God was heard, telling him not to lay his hand on the boy. God had seen the true heart of Abraham, who had leaped by faith over deep human anguish and inner conflict, and he said, ‘Now I know that you fear me, since you have not withheld from me even your only son, whom you love.’

God was to establish Abraham as the father of nations. That is why he brought about this situation, for the sake of Abraham’s steadfast faith. At that moment Abraham did not fully understand God’s will, but because it was a command, he showed an obedience that went beyond human feeling. He knew how hard it is to offer up a son, but he believed there was surely a reason God was doing this, and he obeyed to the end.

Because God loves life, he had no intention from the beginning of taking Isaac’s life; he wanted only to see Abraham’s faith. Even if Abraham had disobeyed, God would not have had Isaac killed. What does this mean? It means that God’s plan is carried out just as it stands, whatever we choose. For the one who obeys, his answer becomes a blessing that gives life; for the one who disobeys, that same answer only becomes a curse. To put it simply, when God says he will give you water and tells you to wipe your bowl clean and have it ready, he gives the water whether you obey that word or not. He gives water even to the one who has not wiped the bowl. [It is the same with the grace of forgiving original sin, and with vows.]

At that point, the one who obeyed will drink water that gives life, and the one who disobeyed will end up drinking water that harms life.

For the one who obeys, that grace becomes a blessing, but for the one who disobeys, the same grace turns into a curse. Happily, because Abraham obeyed God’s will, he came to a good end; but whichever way he chose, it was God who had prepared in advance the ram that would die in Isaac’s place.

Whether or not we believe in what happened on the cross, it is almighty God who bore the cross and forgave our sins, and who, by overcoming death and rising again, prepared in advance all the grace he would give us. Our obedience is what we use to enjoy the grace he has prepared beforehand, and disobedience becomes the tool by which we receive that same grace as a curse. However full of faith a person may be, there is certainly inner conflict. Even when it is the word of God, no father rejoices at a command to offer his son as a burnt offering.

Abraham too would have thought it over countless times and hesitated, but because he was wise, and God’s command came first, he obeyed first of all. In the same way, what God wanted from believers was faith and an obedient heart. The whole world belongs to God the Creator. Why, then, would he take an interest in the little money, the life, and the devotion that we offer him?

What God wants from us is gratitude for the sacrifice of Jesus. What is truly sad is that people think they have the kind of faith that naturally deserves blessing from God. This starts not so much from faith as from a proud heart that expects a reward. God has forgiven their sins through the blood, and yet they think they were saved by their own faith or effort. Only when we throw away this pride can we, who have no merit at all, enter heaven by the grace of God. In the past, the fools who had been lured by Satan’s schemes made plan after plan to kill Jesus, and carried them out.

As a result, through Judas Iscariot, they tasted the joy of seeing Jesus shed his blood on the cross. But they did not know that it had been God’s plan from the beginning for Jesus to die for all humankind. Because of that, they thought they had succeeded, but in the end that success turned into failure.

God’s work was not decided on the spur of the moment; it was planned before creation. That is why Satan’s shallow tricks cannot overcome it. It was God’s plan that Jesus would take on flesh, come to this earth, and forgive the original sin that came through Adam. You must not forget his incarnation; it matters a great deal. For blood was needed, and only by coming in the flesh could he become the atoning sacrifice. So you must not be shaken by those who mock him, saying he was a man of flesh.

Even so, foolish Satan and the fools under his influence are doing their utmost to cover the vast light with darkness. But the glory of God is not something Satan can hold back. The wise, on the other hand, know the greatness of God, and for fear that their sinful selves might hide that glory, they humble themselves all the more and strive to fulfill his will. It is those who proclaim the great Christ, who accomplished the work of salvation on the cross, pouring out water and blood without a single witness, who are wise.

Satan foolishly thought that killing Jesus would put an end to everything, but the death of Jesus that they wanted so badly was in fact the completion of the plan God had laid, which leads on to the resurrection and the second coming. Satan and the world care only about what can be seen, so they can never understand believers working for the kingdom of God, which cannot be seen. That is why, when a believer strives to win the world’s approval, their faith collapses. Be wise people who obey the Word.

Luke 16:19-23

19“Now there was a certain rich man, and he was clothed in purple and fine linen, living in luxury every day. 20A certain beggar, named Lazarus, was taken to his gate, full of sores, 21and desiring to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. Yes, even the dogs came and licked his sores. 22The beggar died, and he was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died, and was buried. 23In Hades, he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far off, and Lazarus at his bosom.

Because the rich man regarded his wealth as wholly his own, he dressed every day in purple and fine linen, living in luxury and enjoying his feasts. Purple here is the clothing a king wears, and fine linen stands for repentance, so the rich man was a hypocrite who showed off his faith. As a rebuke to the pride of such rich people, Jesus warned his hearers to beware of the scribes who want the best seats in the synagogues and the best places at feasts, for they devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers, and they will receive greater condemnation. [Mark 12:39-40]

The rich man lived a life of luxury like a king, but he was stingy toward his needy neighbor. He wore purple and fine linen as though he believed in God faithfully, but in reality he was a fool without faith. At the gate of the rich man, who indulged in pleasure and revelry, lay Lazarus, who needed his help. Lazarus was so poor, yet after his death he is held in Abraham’s bosom. That shows that, though he was poor, he never let go of his faith.

What did you think as you looked at the rich man, who had a false faith yet lived well, and at Lazarus, who had a true faith and yet had to beg for food? If anyone says it is no one’s business how they live on the wealth they have earned, they will probably be rebuked by God on the last day. We must know that when God entrusted wealth to the rich man, a command came with it: to care for his brother in need at his side.

You know the rich man was a foolish man, so you can judge him; but in fact the ones who live the life of faith just as he did are none other than us. For in church we repent, devote ourselves, and show a holy faith, but once we go out into the world, we sin as we please. If we pretend to have faith in front of people, people may be fooled, but God is not fooled, for his eyes are always on us. Those who know that God is never deceived are wise.

It is just as Mark 8:36 says: what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world, and forfeit his life? The rich man lived like a king who had gained the whole world, but his own soul fell into eternal death. As we live in this world, even we who believe in God may be poor, may fall ill, and may be despised and ignored. But this you must know clearly. God’s purpose is not to make people live well; it is to save the people of faith in a world ruled by the spirit of darkness. That is why you need to keep your faith to the end.

Going by verse 16, if people of faith live in a world ruled by a young and foolish king, they may suffer hardship. And if it is ruled by princes who pile up wealth, wield power, and hold feasts for themselves, we may have our lives and our possessions taken from us. So you must pray that leaders will be raised up who do not hinder worship and praise, and you must take an interest in politics so that the church is not persecuted.

The rich man, who enjoyed pleasure as though he were a king, went to hell after he died, while Lazarus, who lived in want but kept his faith, went to heaven. This is why believers must keep their faith.

Mark 8:38 says that whoever is ashamed of Jesus and of his words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man also will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels. In the same way, those who throw away the Word will be put to shame. Only when he had fallen into hell did the rich man realize that the Word was true. In his desperation he begged Abraham to send Lazarus, who was held in Abraham’s bosom, to his brothers, to tell them that heaven and hell are real and that one must believe in Christ to gain eternal life.

The rich man seems to have thought that if Lazarus, who had died, went to his brothers alive, they would see the miracle and receive Jesus. But Abraham said that those who do not listen to the gospel proclaimed by Moses and the prophets will not believe, even if they see the miracle of someone rising from the dead to proclaim the Word. This means that people who do not believe the Bible and who turn away believers who share the gospel have hardened hearts, so they will not receive Jesus even if they see a miracle.

God will have given you many miracles to experience too. If you do not lose God’s grace and your thankfulness, you will be commended as wise; if you experience miracles and still are not thankful, you will be rebuked as a fool. With Christ at the center of your life, it is the decisions you make each day that divide you into the wise and the foolish. A pastor teaches you the Word to raise you up as wise people who set your priorities well and make right judgments.

Ecclesiastes 10:17

17Happy are you, land, when your king is the son of nobles, and your princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!

The son of nobles means a wise person, someone who is more than simply high in birth or rank. The passage says that a land ruled by such a wise person is happy. The princes do not eat for drunkenness. They eat because they know they must regain their strength if they are to truly serve the people rather than advance themselves, and the passage says that a land governed by such people is at peace. Kings and princes like these, who value a selfless life and do their part, are wise people whom God commends and whom their people respect. It is Jesus Christ who has this character and nature, and believers who have Christ as their king are blessed people. So only when leaders who resemble Christ govern a nation can that nation grow strong and its people live in peace.

Ecclesiastes 10:18

18By slothfulness the roof sinks in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaks.

Fools do not work, even though they know their laziness is bringing them down. Such people, even while under attack from Satan, cannot be bothered to strive to set their faith right. If even one small part of a car breaks, it can cause a serious accident. Just as we always check a car so as to reach our destination safely, we must diligently look after our faith so that nothing goes wrong in even its smallest part. If we are lazy and fail to check, that accident may cost a life. So we must always be careful. Because the rich man was stingy when he should have given and proud when he should have shown mercy, he could not get even a single drop of water to help him when he was in torment. If God has given you a place where you are to give freely and care for the poor, I hope you will carry out your mission as a believer and help your brothers with all your strength.

Ecclesiastes 10:19

19A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes the life glad; and money is the answer for all things.

This verse teaches very deeply about something believers are often confused about. The words, a feast is made for laughter, mean in Hebrew that bread is made for laughter. For believers, the greatest feast is to take part in the marriage supper of the Lamb. So it is important for believers to live by the Word, turning neither to the right nor to the left, and to prepare for the marriage supper of the Lamb.

Born-again believers, though their bodies live in the world, are people who hold citizenship in the kingdom of God, so they are under God’s absolute protection. Solomon, who knows that the kingdom of God is real, is saying that those who have received the flesh and blood of Christ are people who know true joy. This verse speaks of the flesh and blood of Christ, but believers whose understanding of alcohol has not been set right do not fully understand the words that wine makes the life glad. People who drink ask why it is forbidden when drinking is not even a sin, but the Bible answers clearly.

Romans 13:13 says to walk properly, as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, and Proverbs 23 says not to be among those drinking too much wine, for the drunkard and the glutton shall become poor, and says not even to look at it. Some people ask why they may not drink when Jesus drank wine too. But when missionaries came to Korea to preach the gospel, it had a culture that took drinking, smoking, gambling, and keeping concubines for granted. Because these evil practices were hindering faith, they were forbidden by rule.

I see some people saying it is all right because Jesus drank wine too, but Israel is not a country rich in water like Korea. People there pressed fruit into juice and drank it in place of water, and since there were no refrigerators, it fermented and became wine. People in Israel drank wine to stay alive, so it is an entirely different story from the drinking culture we have.

People in Korea do not drink to stay alive; they drink for pleasure. When people drink until they are drunk, they lose their reason, say and do things that have nothing to do with Christ, and fall defenseless into Satan’s grip. So it is clearly a sin. If you had no water and had to drink it to survive, you could do so. But be careful: if you insist on drinking what the Word forbids, you may receive God’s discipline.

Verse 20 says not to curse the king, not even in your thoughts, and not to curse the rich in your bedroom, for a bird of the sky may carry the voice of the complaints you make when you are alone, and that which has wings may tell the matter. Because the self is at their center, people curse others and complain about them. Only by acknowledging the authority of the king God has set up do we keep from rebelling. Yet once people judge their own thinking to be right, they grow discontented and fall into the folly of cursing the rich, who have received God’s power and grace in abundance.

Because fools do not fear almighty God, they revile, curse, and mock God’s people and think no one hears. But because Christ created heaven and earth and all things by his word, he hears every complaint in the heart and every word spoken alone in secret in the bedroom. Judas Iscariot, even as he plotted to kill Jesus, thought Jesus would not know what was going on, and Gehazi, who went after General Naaman, secretly took money and goods and thought Elisha would never know.

It is foolish to believe that your evil deeds or lies will never be found out and that you can thoroughly deceive God’s people. Birds and winged creatures spread curses and evil schemes. This means that all creation is under God’s authority, and so the wise strive not to sin. Solomon too thought no one would know about his sins. But God exposed the sins Solomon had committed in the dark of night in broad daylight, before all the people, and put him to shame. Solomon had seen the wrath of God, who laid bare every sin he had committed in secret in his own bedroom, and that is why he is now confessing his sins himself.

If you believe in God, the wise thing is to believe to the end and strive not to sin. If every time you suffer you complain, asking why this has to happen to you and whether God is really alive, you will end up drawn into Satan’s scheme. Satan wants you to become fools. So you must strive not to stray from the Word, and you must discern the spirits wisely. Our King is the great Judge, who is waiting to come again. So if you live wisely and do not hinder God’s work, God will accomplish great things through you.