April 1st is a time for a lot of very funny jokes about April fools, but there is another kind of fool that is no laughing matter. The Bible describes the danger of being a fool.
Proverbs 1:22-33 WEB
“How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? How long will mockers delight themselves in mockery, and fools hate knowledge?
Turn at my reproof. Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you. I will make known my words to you.
Because I have called, and you have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no one has paid attention;
but you have ignored all my counsel, and wanted none of my reproof;
I also will laugh at your disaster. I will mock when calamity overtakes you;
when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when your disaster comes on like a whirlwind; when distress and anguish come on you.
Then will they call on me, but I will not answer. They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me;
because they hated knowledge, and didn’t choose the fear of Yahweh.
They wanted none of my counsel. They despised all my reproof.
Therefore they will eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own schemes.
For the backsliding of the simple will kill them. The careless ease of fools will destroy them.
But whoever listens to me will dwell securely, and will be at ease, without fear of harm.”
This is in stark contrast to blessings of wisdom.
Psalm 1:1-3
How blessed is the man
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,
Nor stand in the path of sinners,
Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.
Where does this find you: frolicking with naive simple-minded fools, or having fellowship with stable God-fearing people? Whatever you do, don’t follow the ultimate foolishness of denying God…
Psalm 14
The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.”
They are corrupt, they have committed abominable deeds;
There is no one who does good.
The LORD has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men
To see if there are any who understand,
Who seek after God.
They have all turned aside, together they have become corrupt;
There is no one who does good, not even one.
Do all the workers of wickedness not know,
Who eat up my people as they eat bread,
And do not call upon the Lord?
There they are in great dread,
For God is with the righteous generation.
You would put to shame the counsel of the afflicted,
But the LORD is his refuge.
Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion!
When the LORD restores His captive people,
Jacob will rejoice, Israel will be glad.