Preaching on Fool: Void without God.

FOOL: Void without God.

Our text, though brief, carries a weighty message. While Matthew 5:22 speaks specifically about anger and its consequences, the underlying principle extends to all who live in defiance or ignorance of God. The term "fool," as we will explore, describes a spiritual emptiness, a deficiency that leaves one adrift and ultimately lost.

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INTRODUCTION:

A. The word "FOOL" - GREEK RAKA - related to the Hebrew "REQ" - It is an Aramaic word. The term "Raka," used by Jesus in Matthew 5:22, carries connotations of emptiness and worthlessness. It is linked to the Hebrew "Req," further emphasizing this sense of being void.

Empty was a word of utmost value, meaning emptiness more related to the intellect than to the moral, lacking intelligence, like Abimelech's (Judges 9:4) and the vain man of James 2:20. Empty, deficient (W.E. VINE). The foolishness described here is not merely a lack of worldly wisdom but a fundamental deficiency in spiritual understanding, a failure to grasp the reality and importance of God in one's life.

B. "FOOL OR INSANE" is any person who does not act sensibly, that is, who does not follow God's admonition and commandments. True sanity, true wisdom, lies in aligning our lives with God's will. To disregard His teachings and live according to our own flawed understanding is to embrace spiritual foolishness, a form of insanity in the eyes of God.

C. Let's study this word so that we may discard it in our lives. Understanding the characteristics and consequences of spiritual foolishness is crucial so that we may actively reject it and walk in the wisdom that comes from God.

I. THE FOOL SAYS IN HIS HEART THERE IS NO GOD.

This is the foundational folly, the root from which all other foolishness springs.

A. Their contempt for God's honor (Psalm 14:1; Psalm 10:4). The fool, in his denial or disregard of God, shows a profound lack of reverence and respect for the One who created and sustains all things. Psalm 10:4 describes the wicked, who in their pride, do not seek God; all their thoughts are that there is no God.

B. This is why the foolish man becomes corrupt (Psalm 53:1-3). When God is removed from the equation, the moral compass is lost, leading to decay and wickedness.

1. They have become corrupt. Their actions and thoughts are tainted by their rejection of divine truth.

2. They have committed abominable injustices. Without the guiding principles of God's law, they descend into acts of cruelty and oppression.

3. They do not do good. Their lives are characterized by a lack of righteousness and a failure to love and serve others as God commands.

4. They have turned aside (v. 3). They have strayed from the path of truth and righteousness, following their own selfish desires.

5. They have no understanding (v. 4). Their spiritual blindness prevents them from discerning right from wrong and from grasping the eternal consequences of their actions.

C. Fools despise God and do not respect His word. They scoff at His commands and see His wisdom as foolishness, choosing instead to rely on their own limited intellect.

II. WHEN ONE SINS, HE IS A FOOL.

Sin is not merely a mistake; it is an act of rebellion against God, a rejection of His wisdom, and therefore, an act of spiritual foolishness.

A. When Saul wanted to kill David, he acted foolishly (1 Samuel 26:21). When Saul sins against God, he acted foolishly (1 Samuel 13:13). Saul's disobedience and his pursuit of his own selfish desires, rather than God's will, are clear examples of how sin equates to foolishness.

B. When David sins, he acted foolishly (2 Samuel 24:10). Even a man after God's own heart succumbed to foolishness when he disobeyed the Lord's command in numbering the people.

C. When Amnon raped Tamar, he acted foolishly (New American Standard Bible) (2 Samuel 13:13). This heinous act, driven by lust and disregard for God's law and Tamar's dignity, is a stark illustration of the destructive foolishness of sin.

D. Devising foolishness is sin (Proverbs 24:9). Even the planning and scheming of evil are themselves acts of foolishness in God's eyes.

III. THE EVILS OF THE FOOL:

Scripture paints a vivid picture of the destructive nature of spiritual foolishness.

A. We see the evils of the fool in many passages:

1. Anger kills a fool (Job 5:2). Uncontrolled rage and frustration consume and destroy those who lack the wisdom to manage their emotions.

2. A fool does not understand (Psalm 94:8). They are incapable of grasping spiritual truths and the deeper meaning of life.

3. Fools will suffer dishonor (Proverbs 3:35). Their rejection of wisdom ultimately leads to shame and disgrace.

4. A fool thinks he is right in everything he says or does, and therefore does not seek or receive good advice (Proverbs 12:15). Their pride blinds them to their own errors and prevents them from learning from others.

5. A fool spreads foolishness (Proverbs 13:16). Their words and actions propagate error and negativity.

6. A fool speaks foolishness (Proverbs 15:2). Their communication lacks wisdom, truth, and edification.

7. The instruction of a fool is foolishness (Proverbs 16:22). For he has no true knowledge, his instruction is not true. Those who lack wisdom cannot impart it to others.

8. A fool rejects discipline (Proverbs 15:5). For he does not know that discipline is good (Hebrews 12:11). They resist correction and therefore hinder their own growth and learning.

9. A fool does not delight in prudence (Proverbs 18:2). They have no desire for wisdom and understanding.

10. A fool's lips stir up strife (Proverbs 18:6). Their words are often the source of conflict and division.

11. A fool trusts in his own heart (Proverbs 28:26). They rely on their own limited understanding rather than seeking God's guidance.

12. A fool gives free rein to his anger (Proverbs 29:11). They lack self-control and are easily provoked.

13. Ecclesiastes 2:14. A fool walks in darkness. They are spiritually blind, unable to see the path of righteousness.

14. A fool's sacrifice is not to hear (Ecclesiastes 5:1). Their religious practices are meaningless because they do not truly listen to and obey God's Word.

15. The fool is always angry (Ecclesiastes 7:9). Their hearts are filled with resentment and bitterness.

16. Ecclesiastes 10:2. A wise man's heart directs him toward the right, but a fool's heart toward the left. Their very inclinations are contrary to God's way.

17. Ecclesiastes 10:12-15. The words of a wise man's mouth win him favor, but the lips of a fool consume him... A fool multiplies words. Their speech betrays their lack of wisdom and often leads to their downfall.

18. The fool does not know God, is dull, unintelligent, and cunning to do evil (Jeremiah 4:22). Their lack of spiritual understanding makes them susceptible to wickedness.

19. The fool has eyes but does not see, and ears but does not hear (Jeremiah 5:21). They are spiritually deaf and blind to God's truth.

20. The fool is one who only thinks about material things, as if his life will never end (Luke 12:20). The parable of the rich fool illustrates the folly of prioritizing earthly possessions over eternal realities.

21. The fool has a darkened heart (Romans 1:21). (It is in darkness). They think they know everything (v. 22). Their rejection of God leads to intellectual and spiritual blindness, yet they are often arrogant in their supposed wisdom.

CONCLUSION:

A. God hates fools because they say in their hearts there is no God. This fundamental denial is an affront to His very being and authority.

1. They are corrupt. Their lives are characterized by moral decay.

2. They do no good. They fail to live according to God's righteous standards.

B. We become foolish when we sin. Every act of disobedience is a step away from God's wisdom and towards spiritual emptiness. Let us be wise, seeking God's guidance and living according to His truth. God will reward us in the end for choosing wisdom over folly, for choosing Him over the void of a life without Him.