Usually
we take a ‘fool’ to be an unknowdegeable person. A random search
for the meaning of ‘fool’ on Google landed me on this definition:
‘a person who acts unwisely or imprudently; a silly person.’ You might have come across quite a number of people
(some with earned doctoral degrees from reputed universities) who are
foolish in their behaviour. Foolishness is thus not a matter of how
much a person know but how a person behaves.
That
is closer to the definition that we find in the bible where a ‘fool’ is
a person who behaves ignoring God (Psa 14:1). Fools not only deny God
but also refuse to learn wisdom that comes from God. In addition to being unteachable they cannot be disciplined (Prov 15:5). So, by refusing
to learn but guided by their own ‘wisdom’ they end up in trouble
always (Prov 14:3). They cause trouble to others as well, as their
behaviour is not in line with the expectations of the society and the standards of God
(Psa 53:1).
Though
not exclusive, Ecclesiastes 5:1-7 offers a closer look at the concept of ‘fool.’
Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil. Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few. For a dream comes with much business, and a fool's voice with many words. When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow. It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. Let not your mouth lead you into sin, and do not say before the messenger that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry at your voice and destroy the work of your hands? For when dreams increase and words grow many, there is vanity; but God is the one you must fear. (Eccl 5:1-7 ESV).
The fools are characterized by their rash speech. Note that here ‘listening’
is contrasted with the ‘sacrifice of the fools’ (Eccl 5:1-2). Fools can say any thing any time without considering what they are
going to say and its consequence. In this particular passage this is
connected with worship. The righteous person draws closer to God in
worship to hear what God has to say—they are all ears in the
presence of God but the fools are ‘all mouth!’ The fools walk in
to offer their sacrifices and doesn’t care if God has to tell them
anything. Because they are wise in their own eyes.
The
rashness also has another danger. The fools makes vows rashly and later discover that they cannot fulfill them. The reason is
simple: they did not consider the need and feasibility of their
comitment. This rashness is the ticket to destruction: ‘Why should
God be angry at your voice and destroy the work of your hands?’
(Eccl 5:6 ESV).
Another
characteristic of ‘fools’ is excessive speech. If ‘rashness’
has to do with the speed, excessive speech has to do with the
quantity; but both are of vey low quality indeed! The preacher notes
that ‘... a fool’s voice (comes) with many words.’ First of all
the fool doesn’t consider what he is going to say before he begins
his speech. He thinks along the way as the speech progress. So, he
has to use a lot of words. Fools try to persuade people not by the
power of their words but the amount of their words. Thus superflous
speech is not only comes from foolishness it makes a fool more
evidently foolish.
Apostle James has summarized this very well in James 1:19: "Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger...."
Apostle James has summarized this very well in James 1:19: "Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger...."