“The Fearfulness of Folly”
Proverbs 26:1-12
[1] Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.
[2] Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, a curse that is causeless does not alight.
[3] A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools.
[4] Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself.
[5] Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
[6] Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.
[7] Like a lame man’s legs, which hang useless, is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
[8] Like one who binds the stone in the sling is one who gives honor to a fool.
[9] Like a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
[10] Like an archer who wounds everyone is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard.
[11] Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly.
[12] Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him. (ESV)
BIG IDEA: Don’t Be Fooled by Folly
[1] Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.
[2] Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, a curse that is causeless does not alight.
[3] A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools.
[4] Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself.
[5] Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
[6] Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.
[7] Like a lame man’s legs, which hang useless, is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
[8] Like one who binds the stone in the sling is one who gives honor to a fool.
[9] Like a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
[10] Like an archer who wounds everyone is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard.
[11] Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly.
[12] Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
Spotlight on Christ:
Luke 11:52–54; 12:1-7: [52] Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering.” [53] As he went away from there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to press him hard and to provoke him to speak about many things, [54] lying in wait for him, to catch him in something he might say. [1] In the meantime, when so many thousands of the people had gathered together that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. [2] Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. [3] Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops.[4] “I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. [5] But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him! [6] Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. [7] Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows. (ESV)
Applications/Uses:
Discussion Questions:
1. What was the big idea of the sermon? Is it faithful to what the text says?
2. What struck you most about the passage as you listened?
3. How does this passage help or motivate us to live for God through Christ?
4. What are some ways you have been affected by the folly of others without realizing it?
5. In what ways are you treating folly opposite to how this text teaches?
6. How wise are you in your own eyes?
7. Who or what do you fear more than Christ, if anything? Why?