They say that there are two kinds of people in the world cat lovers and dog lovers. I (Todd) have always been more of a dog loving person. I think cats are creepy and weird. Dogs are always happy to see you. They greet you with tails wagging even if you only left the house to get the mail. Cats, on the other hand, barely even react when you come into the room. They even give you a look that says, “oh… you again? I was hoping you would get hit by a truck today.”
Like I said before, I’ve always been more of a dog lover than a cat lover, but our family dog is starting to change my feelings. Our dog’s name is Rosie and she’s about as big as a cat. We’ve had her for about 4 years and she has the illusion of being a smart dog. Rosie can sit, rollover, shake hands, and even jump through a hoop… but the idea that she is teachable and smart is false! She’s not really teachable… she’s not that smart…she only does her tricks because she gets a treat. She’s’ completely externally motivated. She just wants the food.
It may sound harsh but I’ve determined that my little dog is a fool. She has no integrity. She cannot be trusted. She cannot be left alone. Given the chance, given freedom, she will inevitably make her way upstairs to every trash can and tip it over… and if there is a diaper inside of it, she will pull it out and tear it apart. Then she will leave it there for you to make a disgusting discovery hours later.
No matter how many times we scold her, yell at her, swat her on the butt with the newspaper, put her nose in it, taze her (just kidding… Although….hmmm). Anyway, no matter how we try to correct her, she continues this disgusting behavior.
And it happened again this past Friday morning. I did what I always do in the morning… get up, make the coffee, let the dog out to go potty, poor myself a cup, let the dog back in, and then we both sit down together while I do my devotions.
But then I slipped. Instead of putting her back on the leash before waking the kids up, I must have moved ahead with my day leaving Rosie unsupervised. Of course I got distracted with pouring bowls of cereal and packing lunches. While my back was turned Rosie struck again.
I couldn’t believe it! I was so disappointed. I said her name once in disgust and she tucked her tail and her head and went to her place in the kitchen where her leash is attached to the kitchen table. I didn’t even get angry this time because I’ve basically given up on her… I’ve written her off. She’s an unteachable fool. I just clipped her to the leash and began cleaning up the disgusting dog eaten diaper.
It makes me sad that she does this. I don’t know why she repeats this behavior. What’s worse is that I really do want to give her so much more freedom! I want to let her go free in the house! All day… and at night…. And even when we are gone…. But she can’t be trusted! She’s only good when we are watching and she repeats her mistakes like a drug addict.
When she did her disgusting diaper dash yesterday morning, a Proverb flashed through my mind. Perhaps you’ve heard it… Proverbs 26:11 “As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly.” And I quickly translated it to fit my dumb dog… “As a dog keeps sneaking off to eat a dirty diaper, so a fool returns to his folly!”
As I’m cleaning up the messy diaper I began thinking to myself…Doesn’t she fear me? She seems to – she tucks her tail every time I catch her! Doesn’t she know that if she would just quit doing this she’d have a lot more freedom and a lot more fun!? Of course, God, had to begin whispering to me at this point. What about you Todd? Are there any follies in your life that you keep returning to? Are you teachable? As He spoke….I thought to myself (and almost spoke out loud) Please God, really… you’re going to turn this on me now!? Isn’t it enough that I have to clean this up – again. God kept whispering… How well do you respond to discipline? Who are you when no one’s looking? Do you fear me? What freedom am I having to hold back from you because you are not trust-worthy? I didn’t answer him… I just thought about it all. And what came to my mind next wasn’t the fact that there are two kinds of people in the world… but that there are two kinds of people in the Word (the Bible) the Fool and the Wise.
The book of Proverbs outlines and defines them for us the most. I encourage you to do a study for yourself but here’s a few bottom line ideas:
A wise person:
- The wise person keeps company with people who are wiser still, but the Fool listens only to himself. “The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice” (Proverbs 12:15).
- A wise person listens to others, receives correction and applies the truth even it if hurts. (Proverbs 1:5, 9:8) But the Fool… always has to learn the hard way… “A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!” (Proverbs 26:3)
- The wise will change their ways based on the learning (Proverbs 8:33) but the Fool… doesn’t listen to instruction. A fool (if they ever change at all) only changes after great pain. Who was it that once said, “When the pain of staying the same is finally worse than the pain of changing, a man will change.”
- The wise man knows the power of his words (Proverbs 12:18) but the fool uses his mouth to injure and spread gossip.
- The wise shape the world for the better with their wise words and deeds (Proverbs 16:14, 29:8) but the fool stirs up the city.
- A wise person makes good choices for the day and for the future (Proverbs 21:20) but the fool lives for his immediate pleasure and gives no thought to the future.
- The wise person sows and reaps blessing (Proverbs 3:35 ) but the fool inherits grief and shame.
I’ve noticed that both the fool and the wise realize that life is full of gray areas. You know what I mean by gray, right? Gray areas, are those areas of life where there isn’t a clear boundary. No rule is posted. No speed limit sign, No established boarder. Fools operate in the gray areas of life by asking themselves the question, “Is there anything wrong with this?” If they can’t find a hard and fast rule they happily move ahead doing as they see fit. But the wise (the truly righteous person} operates in the gray areas of life much differently… Instead of asking the question “Is there anything wrong with this?” They ask a different question, “What is the wise thing for me to do?” They as this question with the following filters applied…In light of my past, in light of my future, in light of who I lead, and in light of what Gods word says– “What’s the wise thing for me to do?”
1 Corinthians 10:23 says, “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. Wise people aren’t don’t search for loop-holes, they search for what is best.
So, If you’re still wondering which side of the fence you’re on when it comes to being a fool or being counted among the wise, perhaps the following list of Jeff Foxworthy style line up of “You might be a Fool” statements will help. Some of them you may find funny and some – not so much, but funny isn’t really my only goal here.
You Might Be A Fool….
If a key motivational phrase in your life is “I dare you”
… you might be a Fool.
If your key financial adviser is the same person who gave you lottery tickets for Christmas
… you might be a Fool.
If you have been fired for the same behavior more than two or three times
… you might be a Fool.
If you’ve ever use the phrase “Well, The Bible doesn’t specifically say…”
… you might be a Fool.
If you have string of broken relationships, divorces, and jobs you’ve been let go from – and each time you walk away saying something like “they just don’t get me!”
… you might be a Fool.
If you have moved more than twice to get away from “those” idiots
… you might be a Fool.
If you often use phrases like: “You don’t know me” or “Who are you to judge me” Or “I’ll show them”
… you might be a Fool.
If you know could do it better than them but just choose not to. … you might be a Fool.
If you’re waiting for your ship to come in saying, ”Someday I’d like to… instead of today I’m going to…”
… you might be a Fool.
I could keep going… but you get the idea… you might be a fool. And we all play the fool from time to time but hopefully we aren’t the worst kind. Hopefully we can be taught. Hopefully our conscience isn’t seared to the point that we can’t even hear God’s whispering voice offering us loving correction.
In the end I’m learning that there are a lot of pathways toward becoming a fool… but only one pathway to become wise.
Which path are you on?
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”
~ Proverbs 9:10 ~
“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”
~ James 1:5 ~