Proverbs 29:9
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If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man, whether he rage or laugh, there is no rest.
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Fools are hopeless! And they are a pain! No matter what methods you use, they cannot and will not learn wisdom. They are incorrigibly foolish, rebelliously wicked, and stubbornly conceited. From anger to humor, nothing will change their depraved hearts. There is only one Physician for this disease, only one Counselor for these lunatics.
What is a fool? A fool denies the existence of God - in words or actions (Ps 14:1). A fool trusts his own heart (28:26), rejects instruction (15:5), and despises correction. He hates wisdom and loves folly. He is not merely foolish; he has been given over to folly. He thinks, speaks, and acts contrary to wisdom and convention. He is in love with himself.
You will meet these miserable creatures. Solomon here prepared his son for these frustrating encounters. Rather than fall into despair over helping them, Solomon warned that there are no methods known to man to change these corrupt persons. If the Lord does not change his perverse heart, he will sink into hell with it (20:12; II Tim 2:24-26).
You cannot reason with them: they are unreasonable - they have no faith (II Thess 3:2). They do not seek the living God (Heb 11:6). They are incorrigible (27:22). They may know and recite Scripture or doctrine, but it means nothing. The Lord of glory will reject many accomplished Pharisees and preachers in the Day of Judgment (Matt 7:21-23).
Intimidation and threats will not teach a fool, neither will friendship and humor. You will be frustrated! There is no rest! Fools love being fools - they love their folly - and you will not change them. So the wise thing to do is get away from them, as Solomon, Jesus, and Paul agreed (9:6; 13:20; 14:7; 26:4-5; Matt 7:6; I Cor 15:33). Stay away from them!
What horror to give birth to a fool (17:21,25)! What horror to marry a fool (30:23; I Sam 25:25)! What horror to be born to a fool (I Sam 20:30-34)! But if the truth is told, you were born a fool! You were as corrupt as the worst fool of hell (Rom 3:9-18; Eph 2:1-3; Titus 3:3). Only the renewing and regeneration of the Holy Spirit saved you (Titus 3:5)!
What evangelistic methods can save a fool? What approach can win him from his love of sin to love Jesus Christ and righteousness instead? There are none! None at all! Abraham told the rich man that even one coming back from the dead would be a worthless evangelist (Luke 16:27-31). And a change of environment will not do a thing either (Is 26:10). There is nothing you can tell a sinner to influence him in the least (I Cor 1:18; 2:14; II Cor 4:3-4). His mind is enmity against God and cannot change (Rom 8:7-8).
In spite of all the soul-saving braggadocio and money-begging extortion of the modern missionary movement, neither Mother Theresa nor Billy Graham can save a single fool from his depraved heart. Fools must be born again (John 3:3), resurrected from spiritual death (John 5:25), and quickened into life (Eph 2:1) by the voice of the Son of God and power of the Holy Ghost. Salvation is of the Lord! If you love wisdom and heavenly things, and are living a life dedicated to Jesus Christ, bless His name for saving you!
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