Proverbs 26:5. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
OK, this is confusing. Yesterday we read Proverbs 26:4 which said, answer NOT a fool, and today we read the very next verse which says the exact opposite thing, answer a fool.
So should we answer fools or not? That’s where wisdom comes in.
The proverbs were arranged meticulously by scribes over the years. It is not very likely that placing these two contrasting proverbs side-by-side is a mistake. Rather, it is far more likely that it is purposeful and serves to make a valuable point about wisdom – often in life there is not only one answer. The wisdom of our response depends on the situation. Sometimes we should not answer a fool, and sometimes we should.
So when should we answer a fool? Well, the answer in verse five is when we believe that the fool may listen and stop being wise in his own eyes.
You recall what we said yesterday about different kinds of fools. The fool in Proverbs 26:4-5 is sort of right in the middle of the fool paradigm. The stupid fool. He has not yet drifted into the category of stubborn fool, or scornful fool. Often these two fools are too far gone. But for our stupid fool there may still be hope.
The Bible is full of the stories of fools who repented. The Pharaoh of Exodus was a stubborn and scornful fool who would never fully repent. But King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon was a fool who repented and trusted God (at least for a while). Some of the great kings in the Bible were fools who repented, like Joash and Josiah. Paul himself was also a fool who repented, trusted in Jesus, and became a great missionary. But Judas, by contrast, was a fool who didn’t repent. But no fool ever repented without some sort of confrontation from God or his servants.
The other issue at hand is the spread of the fool’s folly. Fools beget fools. The simple fool is easily drawn into the attractive folly of the stupid fool. So how do we stop the spread of foolishness, cockiness, self-promotion, and the ignoring of God and his grace? Answer the fool according to his folly. That’s how.
But what about all those warnings in yesterday’s devotional? Of course, they still hold. But our answer is found in the second line – lest he be wise in his own eyes. Proud. This is the opposite of the fear of the Lord. Trapped in their pride is the most dangerous place a person can find themselves. If there is no response to this prideful fool when he mocks God and hurts others, he will strut around in his arrogance believing that he is better than everyone else and draw way the hearts of the simple who want to be like him.
Jesus did this. He often answered fools in their folly. The Scribes and Pharisees would ask him loaded questions meant to trip him up and make him look dishonorable. What if Jesus never responded to these fools? But by pointing out the ignorance, pride, and faithlessness of the religious leaders he was saving the simple who might be “blind followers of the blind.”
In Christ we have all been given the Spirit of Wisdom, the Holy Spirit, who can guide us into knowing when to answer the fool and when to ignore the fool. Love must be our guide, never our own foolish pride. The only reason to answer the fool in their folly is to save their soul or to save the souls of those who may follow in their footsteps. Our motivation can be that of Jesus, to bring back the sinner from their wandering.
James 5:20. whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
You: Same question as yesterday – Do you argue with fools?
You in Christ: How does Christ’s love in us allow us to answer the fool from compassion not conquest?
Christ in you: How can you answer the fool with love and not pride?
Pray: Father, you have saved this fool. Use me to bring back wandering hearts to you. Amen.
To Live is Christ 