Proverbs 26:6
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He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage.
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Fools cannot be trusted. They are too lazy, stupid, and willful to do a job right. Carrying a message is an easy task, but a fool will not do it right or on time. You might as well cut a man's legs off and send him! You will damage your purpose and your reputation, for the message will not be communicated as you intended. Are you a fool? Do you avoid fools?
Solomon had no use for fools, and he warned his son against them. A king could easily damage his authority, reputation, and integrity by using fools for government service. A wise man will protect the integrity of his projects and his reputation by avoiding fools as much as possible. He will only use faithful persons, especially for important matters.
Fools must be avoided, but you must also avoid being a fool yourself! This chapter of Proverbs begins with an extended indictment of fools (26:1-12). There are several lessons to be learned: how to identify a fool, how to treat a fool, and how to avoid being a fool. All three lessons are important, and you must learn all three to truly be a wise man.
Sending a message is synecdoche for any important task (10:26; 13:17; 25:13). The message may be about business, politics, or religion; but correctly conveying a request, information, or an order is important. If the message is not delivered properly, the project at stake and the reputation of the person sending the message will be damaged.
What is a fool? A person that does not fear God (Ps 14:1). Wisdom begins by fearing God, but a fool lacks this basic requirement (1:7; 9:10). Rejecting the fear of God, a fool is also given to conspiring, dreaming, lying, sleeping, talking, and excusing himself. He hates listening, obeying, and working. He wants to do things his way (28:26).
Cutting off feet describes the choice to trust a fool for an important job. You might as well cut the feet off a messenger: the job will not be done right! Drinking damage is a metaphor for receiving lots of damage, as it is used elsewhere (Job 15:16; 34:7).
It is wrong to trust a fool or be a fool. Reader, are you a joy to those who trust you and give you assignments, or are you a painful irritation (10:26; 25:13)? Do you also protect yourself by avoiding fools? It is not enough to be faithful; you must also use faithful men.
The gospel of Jesus Christ is the greatest message of all, so requirements for a minister are strict (I Tim 3:1-7; II Tim 2:2; Titus 1:5-9). These restrictions cannot be compromised without damaging the saints and churches of Jesus Christ (II Cor 2:17; 4:2; II Pet 2:1-2).
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