A man’s spirit is what he is…….

“You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you.  And even though “I am allowed to do anything,” I must not become a slave to anything”.   I Cor. 6:12 NLT

One of the longest discussions in the Bible about one type of person concerns the fool: Prov. 26:1-12.    These verses are tightly knit in an interesting structure.  The word “fool” used in Prov. is not someone who lacks basic intelligence.   A fool is not someone who lacks information.  Rather, the term “fool” is a moral term in this book.

“Wisdom” is defined in Proverbs as seeing who God is, seeing how He rules the world, and responding accordingly.   The fool is someone who is not wise in this sense.    He does not see who God is!  Or he sees, and does NOT respond accordingly.   In particular, the fool takes his moral code, his rules for living, from any source other than God’s Word.  Thus, a person can have the highest IQ in the world and still be a fool.

“Give a silly answer to a silly question, and the one who asked it will realize that he's not as smart as he thinks”.  Prov. 26:5 GNT

“There is more hope for fools than for people who think they are wise”. Prov. 26:12 NLT

If the foolish person continues to go in the direction he’s headed, with his understanding of right and wrong, he will be wise in his own eyes.   And that’s very dangerous.   For if he himself becomes the final arbiter of right and wrong, he will never listen to rebuke or correction.   He judges God; God cannot judge him according to his thoughts.    He IS self exalted!

Is this the necessary outcome of the fool’s life?  Is there hope?   These verses imply that there is at least a tinge of hope.   Not all fools are yet wise in their own eyes, for someone who answers a fool according to his folly may keep him from becoming that way.   It is important NOT to give him the impression of approval, NOT to encourage him in this dangerous path he is on.  

The undisciplined person in the spiritual life is always trying to reform, but never does.   They say, “Pray for me in my struggle with anger, addictions, jealousy, hatred….etc.”    But they continue to go back to their old ways and never fight the temptations.    They NEVER take the steps necessary to grow up and walk in maturity.

They love to make resolutions and promises that they are going to change.  They even pick up the Bible and have a reading plan----that makes them feel good and they believe they have fooled others with their actions.    But after a short time they fall back into their old ways.

 The fool is confident in his own ability to see the world and discern right from wrong.  Thus, he is not submitting himself to Jesus because he is in control and lives in the real world.

He is in great danger personally-----headed to destruction.

A city without a wall is in peril.  It has NO protection. 

A man’s spirit is what he is!

If he loses control of the spirit, he has lost control of himself.    The spirit of man must control the flesh, or else, the man will go the way of the flesh which leads to hell.    As with all sins.

 Each one of us can fall into sin unless we guard our souls, fearing the Lord and seeking wisdom.   We can destroy what we love most; we can harm what we most want to build up if left to our sinful selves.

We need to identify these sinful tendencies within our self.  Put off the old man and flee from these sinful desires!

God does not just tell us what to quit, He also tells us how to correct our problem.   Additions and anger is often a deep-seeded habit, but anyone can overcome them by diligent application of God’s Word.

“ My eyes are always on the Lord,
for he rescues me from the traps of my enemies”.  Psalms 25:15 NLT