Foolish Life Strategies

Foolish Life Strategies Adapted from work by Harold Bullock

In Hebrew six different words are translated “fool” in English. • Understanding the different “fools” gives greater insight to the Scriptures. • We all dabble with or have been mired in these foolish strategies. Can you identify your struggles and the way of escape?

Pethiy • “The Simpleton”; gullible • Unfamiliar with biblical teachings, so he is easily led astray • Loose in his grasp of how life should be lived, believing many alternative approaches to life • They are easily seduced: easy prey for false teachers • Pinocchio

Proverbs 13:16 Every prudent man acts out of knowledge, but a fool exposes his folly.

Pethiy Needs to: • Learn the word of God

Keseel: the easy way • Lazy +Big Dreams = a need for a “magic key”: “If only such-and-such would happen, I’d be successful” • Waiting for something to happen to him rather than creating opportunities with hard work • His inclinations to unreality and laziness lead to a life littered with failures

Proverbs 14:16 A wise man fears the Lord and shuns evil, but a fool is hotheaded and reckless.

Proverbs 26:11 As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.

Proverbs 28:26 He who trusts in himself is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom is kept safe.

Ecclesiastes 4:5 The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh.

Keseel Needs to: • Work hard • Trust God • Hang in there

Eveel: my way • “It’s MY way or you’ll be sorry” • Stubborn, loud, quarrelsome, manipulative: willing to “make a scene” to achieve goals; always ready to fight • Mocks at forgiveness

Proverbs 27:3 Stone is heavy and sand a burden, but provocation by a fool is heavier than both.

Proverbs 17:12 Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly.

Eveel Needs to • Let go of control • Let other people be adults

Cakal: the fun way • Instant gratification: “I want it NOW!” without thought of consequences • Most stupid appearing of all • Tend toward addictions • May be very religious, but perceives no connection between BELIEF and BEHAVIOR • God Himself must break the cycle; this guy is too foolish to heed warnings -- Ps 29:1

Proverbs 29:1 A man who remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed — without remedy.

Cakal Needs to • Put belief and behavior together • Know that responsibility develops us, not pleasure

Halal: Glory way • Self-exaltaion; Seeks his own advancement: attention seeker • This one we all will struggle with all of our days • Capable leaders, but with an underhanded edge • Believes in God but doesn’t believe that He does anything • These are church splitters; “wolves”

Ecclesiastes 9:3 This is the evil in everything that happens under the sun: The same destiny overtakes all. The hearts of men, moreover, are full of evil and there is madness in their hearts while they live, and afterward they join the dead.

Prov 27:22 Though you grind a fool in a mortar, grinding him like grain with a pestle, you will not remove his folly from him.

Halal Needs to: • Learn to serve others • Be patient for God to bring honor

Nabal: The predatory way • Deliberately evil • May be very successful in business or in social circles • A consistent atheist. He acts based on his belief: he is freely immoral or amoral. He does not believe that he will face any accountability before God • If there are two ways of accomplishing a task and one is hurtful to others, he will chose the hurtful way

Psalms 14:1 The foolsays in his heart, "There is no God."

Deut 32:21 So I will make them jealous with those who are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation,

Nabal Needs to: • Be kind • Heal • Do good

Foolish Life Strategies