What the Bible Really Says About Being a Fool—And How Not to Be One
When most people hear the word “foolishness,” they might think of silly mistakes or not being very smart. But in the Bible, foolishness is about much more than just making errors or lacking intelligence. Instead, it focuses on ignoring wisdom, especially the wisdom that comes from God, and not respecting God’s guidance in our lives.
What Is Foolishness According to the Bible?
In the Bible, foolishness is often described as a lack of wisdom and understanding—not just in a book-smart way, but in a spiritual and moral sense. It’s when a person ignores what God says is right and chooses their own way, often without thinking about the consequences.
The Book of Proverbs talks a lot about foolishness. For example, Proverbs 1:7 says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.” In plain terms, this means that respecting God is the first step toward real understanding, but a fool turns away from advice and correction.
Another example is Proverbs 14:1, which says, “The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.” Here, foolishness is shown to bring destruction, while wisdom helps us build up our lives and the lives of those around us.
Foolishness in the New Testament
The New Testament also talks about foolishness, but often connects it to ignoring God’s truth or not understanding spiritual things. In 1 Corinthians 1:18–25, the Apostle Paul explains that while some people think the message of Jesus dying on the cross is foolish, it’s actually the greatest wisdom and power of God.
Jesus Himself shared stories about foolishness. In one parable (Matthew 7:26–27), He compared a person who hears His teachings but doesn’t follow them to someone who builds a house on sand—it’s not going to last when troubles come.
Key Signs of Foolishness
If you’re wondering what foolishness looks like in everyday life, the Bible gives us some clear examples:
· Ignoring God’s Wisdom: A fool acts like they know best and doesn’t listen to good advice (Proverbs 12:15).
· Spiritual Blindness: Foolishness is not seeing or admitting what’s true about God and life’s bigger picture (Romans 1:21–22).
· Pride and Self-Reliance: Thinking you can do it all yourself, without God, is a sign of foolishness (Proverbs 28:26).
· Harmful Actions: Foolishness leads to choices and words that hurt yourself and others (Ecclesiastes 10:12–13).
What Happens If We Live Foolishly?
The Bible tells us that foolishness doesn’t just lead to little problems—it can bring real trouble. Proverbs 19:3 says, “A man’s own folly ruins his life, yet his heart rages against the LORD.” This means that our own bad choices can mess up our lives, but sometimes we even blame God for the results!
Jesus warned about the biggest consequence of all: missing out on God’s blessings because of being unprepared or not taking spiritual things seriously, like in the story of the ten virgins (Matthew 25:1–13).
How Can We Avoid Foolishness?
Thankfully, the Bible doesn’t just warn us about foolishness—it tells us how to avoid it. The first step is to “fear the Lord,” which means to respect, trust, and listen to God. The Bible says if we want wisdom, we should ask God for it, and He’ll help us (James 1:5).
Here are a few practical steps:
· Be humble—admit you don’t have all the answers.
· Ask God for guidance in your choices.
· Try to follow what the Bible teaches, not just hear it.
· Listen to wise counsel from others who follow God.
In summary, foolishness in the Bible isn’t about being silly or not knowing facts—it’s about ignoring God, missing out on His wisdom, and making choices that can mess up our lives. But by seeking God’s wisdom, being humble, and following His ways, we can live wisely and experience the good things God wants for us.
Minister A Francine Green
August 2025
afrancinegreen.com 