THE FOOLS WE MUST DEAL WITH DAILY
By Clement Udegbe
Life on this earth has to be lived irrespective race, creed or color. While some live by the brutal Jungle rule of the survival of the fittest, others let their religious convictions moderate and guide how they deal with others and issues.
However, all humans seem to believe that there is a supreme force or power responsible for the happenings on earth. Some believe in many gods represented by the animals and trees that govern their activities, and all that, while many others believe in the existence of one supreme power that controls and decides what happens on this earth.
Occultists, Metaphysicists, Clairvoyants, and even Magicians believe in a supreme power. All thoughts support the use of wisdom to deal with the issues of life.
The opposite of wisdom is foolishness. In life therefore, we must deal with either the wise or the fool, and people who swing between the two extremes.
Wisdom and foolishness has so little to do with intelligence quotient, academic abilities, but is simply a gift from God, the creator of man on earth.
Christians, Muslims, and many other religions and spiritual beliefs accept the existence of one supreme Spiritual Power. Bible believing Christians, know that Supreme power is God who created the heavens and the earth, the God of Israel.
| Dr. Albert Einstein is widely credited with saying, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again but expecting different results. However, clinically, Insanity or mental illness is where the victim cannot distinguish fantasy from reality, cannot conduct her/his affairs due to psychosis, or is subject to uncontrollable impulsive behavior. This means that Einstein’s definition of insanity is not quite accurate, it is more of extreme or severe type of foolishness. The opposite of a wise heart is a foolish heart. The Holy Scripture warns that anyone who associates with a fool will be destroyed. It is therefore vital that we recognize the various types of fools and learn how to respond to each type of the fools. We can then stretch it to see which nations, societies, and people conduct themselves like fools and perhaps learn or develop a method to respond to them. King Solomon of Israel reputed as the wisest king on this earth, identified five types of fools and how to deal with each one. They are the Simple fool, Silly fool, Sensual fool, Scorning fool, and the Steadfast fool. Wise counselors—parents, pastors, friends, spouses—need to understand the progression of rebellion that is reflected in the Bible’s description of fools. If you learn to perceive the characteristics of a simple fool, silly fool, sensual fool, scorning fool, and steadfast fool, you will be equipped to identify and respond to such fools with wisdom and discernment. I tried a guess with Nigeria, I may be wrong. The Simple Fool is extremely vulnerable, opens his mind to any passing thought and opens his arms to any passing stranger. In other words, he lacks discernment. He has an over-simplified view of life and fails to recognize the cause-and-effect sequences that affect every area of life. Because the simple fool is not discerning, he is easily captivated by all kinds of enticements and deceptions. He is dangerously immature, extremely gullible, and intensely curious. In the absence of instruction and consistent discipline, the simple fool will naturally become more foolish. A simple fool is especially vulnerable to seduction, lacking an understanding of the irreversible consequences of moral failure, easily corrupted by scorning fools. He needs a leader and instructions on the principles of life. Leaders who are simple fools need strong persons around them as advisers to apply instructions to them and this lends such a leader to the exploitation of the scorning fools. History shows that societies full of simple fools often prefer lies, need highly autocratic and despotic totalitarian leaders to flourish. Often, the leader gets exploited by the scorning fools around him. A close look around African Leaders today will show these kinds of people playing leadership roles leaving their nations in cycles of poverty and untold vulnerabilities. Scorning fools will tend to seek out simple fools and try to become their heroes. Scorning fools get simple fools to do evil to despise rules and authorities, by Creating unrest and contention. They are often proud of evil exploits…. such as manipulation of the institutions of society to foment trouble while benefiting from it all. They need to be under constant supervision, punished publicly for crimes and may have to be removed from contact with others. It takes so much energy and time manage scorning fools. The scorning fool is a scoffer, his facial expressions communicate the disdain and contempt he has in his heart toward his authorities, including parents, civil authorities, and God. This type of fool not only has rejected truth; he also has embraced that which is abominable to God. Psalm 1:1 describes the progression of foolishness, referring to a man who first walks “in the counsel of the ungodly,” then stands “in the way of sinners,” and finally sits “in the seat of the scornful.” The scorning fool utterly detests people and ideas that contradict his false thinking, and he expresses his scorn through derisive attitudes, behavior, and speech. The scorning fool turns a deaf ear to rebuke: Those who attempt to lead the scorning fool away from the path of destruction that he seems determined to follow will suffer his wrath. “A scorner loves not one that reproves him: neither will he go to the wise” “He that reproves a scorner gets to himself shame and hatred but reprove the wise and he will love you. (Proverbs 9:7–8). A scorner must be punished—for his own sake and for the sake of those whom he can potentially influence. Protect simple fools from the destructive influence of the scorning fool to keep a better society. It is critical to bring swift correction to scorning fools. “Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware …” (Proverbs 19:25). Scornful nations are dealt with often harshly to contain them. They often kill others and when things go awry, they kill their leaders for each scorning fool desires to lead. One governor in the South East of Nigeria and another in the North East combine simple and scorning foolishness. Figure them out! The Silly Fool is perversely silly, his mouth often gets him into trouble. “Wise men layup knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction” (Proverbs 10:14 Proverbs 20:3). When things go wrong for a silly fool, he becomes angry, resulting in more damage. A silly fool believes that his own way of thinking is right so much so that he reacts to instruction when it is offered: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Proverbs 1:7; and Proverbs 10:21). Argument, persuasion, and advice from well-meaning friends fail to convince silly fools of error. He Seeks “a good time”, has fun breaking rules, is committed to wrong friends, has little guilt for wrongdoing. Separation from peer group helps the silly fool and can be helped to gain a clear conscience correction by authorities when publicly shamed which often helps him. Think of a big political leader of the South West and an ex-governor each in the South South and in the South West of Nigeria. Figure them out! The Sensual Fool One who rejects the correction of parents or other authorities will become a sensual fool. This type of fool may be identified as big, stupid or silly. He seems determined to make wrong choices. He does not have a mental deficiency, but rather rejects the wisdom of God. As a youth he Sneaks out with wrong friends, is involved in drugs, wrong habits, Engages in immorality, and Skilled in deception. The sensual fool’s focus is on that which brings him immediate pleasure. He glories in that of which he should be ashamed. “It is as sport to a fool to do mischief … ” Best way to handle him is turn him over to the court system, to break root or foundation problems, by breaking wrong soul ties and help them to learn the truth about life. A sensual fool is unreasonable. As a silly fool, his mouth got him into trouble. Now, as a sensual fool, his mouth gets him into more trouble. Sensual fools can kill their best friends to take what they own, including their spouses he just does not care. Scripture gives more warnings about the sensual fool than about any other type of fool. His motives and methods are subtle. He should be avoided, because those who follow him will be led astray. “… A companion of fools shall be destroyed” Severe punishment is prescribed for the sensual fool: “A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool’s back” (Proverbs 26:3, ). There are many in the North of Nigeria that are silly and sensual fools combined, they kill to take what belongs to another. Figure them out! The Steadfast Fool The most dangerous type of fool is a steadfast fool. ,They are stupid, wicked, and vile . A steadfast fool totally rejects God and His ways. “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good” (Psalm 14:1). This type of fool is self-confident and close-minded. He is his own god, freely gratifying his lower nature. It is his goal to draw as many others as possible into his evil ways. Attempts to reprove him will be futile and bring frustration to the one who tries to influence him. He has seared conscience, believes it is right to do wrong , Is skilled in argumentation, Seeks followers for self-gain,. To contain them is to place them in solitary confinement, expose them to the laws and judgement of God. Refuse to argue with him but warn others of his errors. Fulani herds men, bandits and Boko haram, including perhaps one North Eastern State one State Governor. Figure him out! Only God can successfully reprove a steadfast fool. The wise must never ever take the steadfast fool for granted. Hit him very hard and he will learn and back down from you. In Proverbs 1:22, wisdom declares: “How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? Turn you at my reproof……The turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them… But whoso hearken unto godly wisdom, shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.” As we Biafrans and Southern Nigerians pray and fight violent, deceptive and wicked islamisation of Nigeria let us Choose Wisdom and Reject Foolishness heeding at all times this declaration “walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise” . Ndigbo needs to relocate completely from the violent areas of Nigeria…Only fools allow themselves to be killed by idiots! |