THE FOOL, THE LAZY, AND THE GOSSIP August 14, 2020

From the Word we read today in the 26^th chapter of the book of Proverbs, it seems like the Wise Teacher had serious issues with certain types of people.  And I believe, because he is the son of the man who was called as “a man after GOD’s own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14), GOD gave him wisdom (1 Kings 3:12) to understand that GOD also has a certain dislike for the three kinds of people discussed here, namely, what he calls “The Fool”, “The Lazy / Sluggard / Slothful”, and “The Gossip / Talebearer”.  Even ordinary human beings like us are also averse to these kinds, even if sometimes we become them.

 

It is good to know who are these people, so that we may learn to avoid thinking, speaking and doing like them, and hence sabotage the blessings and opportunities GOD sends our way.

 

The Fool is described in the first twelve verses, namely; that this person is not worth honor, grace and favor (like snow in summer, or rain during harvest), somebody who is always not on the right track or is always not able to make use of opportunities in the proper, timely and judicious manner (verse 1); this person always encounters what is considered as a curse, or in layman’s language, bad luck (verse 2); because of stubbornness, must be disciplined harshly (verse 3); senseless in his speech and conversations (verse 4); thinks himself wise when in fact he knows nothing and nothing worthwhile (verse 5); is not worth entrusting messages or important information with (verse 6); parables and words of wisdom mean nothing to him (verse 7); like a tool that when used improperly, is only a burden and backfires to its owner (the stone in the sling, verse 8); like a thorn to the hand of a drunkard, whose judgment is clouded, and unable to discern what is happening to him (verse 9); still blessed by GOD (verse 10), but is unthankful, does not learn life’s proper lessons, forgetful of GOD’s mercies, and always goes back to doing unwise things and making unwise decisions (verse 11); but there is still hope for the fool if he learns the errors of his ways, than the person who is conceited enough to think that he is wise, that he is always right and he knows everything (verse 12).

 

The second type of person the wise Teacher warns us about are the Lazy or Slothful or Sluggards.  These really are a burden everywhere, in any family unit, in any community or organization.  Because of laziness, this person always makes excuses (verse 13); prefers sleeping or the status quo rather than moving forward, growing or developing (verse 14); too lazy to even feed himself (verse 15); though lazy to read, to know, to find out more, hence ignorant and ill-informed, is conceited enough to think that he is wiser than (at least) seven other persons who have good sense and proper reason (verse 16).  These people make one think of the “click-baiters and click-baited” in our generation who, in their desire to be thought well-read, share posts even if these are unverified, make comments (often harsh and filled with vitriol) even if they do not know all sides to a story or the background and history of such events or situations, and criticize or harass others whom they think are less informed than them when in fact, they are the ones who are truly ignorant and have a limited knowledge of life, people, places and things.

 

The third person the wise Teacher abhors are the gossips.  These are meddlers in other people’s affairs, and oftentimes get in trouble for it (verse 17); like a mad man who only brings destruction and death (verse 18), is this person who pulls pranks even if these are humiliating or hurting to other people (verse 19), hence, insensitive to people’s feelings, preferences, beliefs, principles, and characters; like a fire that burns wood, without them of which there would be peace and an end to quarrels and arguments (verse 20); argumentative without reason, like a kindling or fuel for fire (verse 21); their gossips actually hurt people emotionally (verse 22); they have burning lips and wicked hearts, like broken fragments of pottery that are covered with dirt and scum (verse 23); hateful and deceitful (verse 24); flatterer and may speak of good things but actually only has evil things inside of him (verse 25); his hatred and evil deeds may be covered or hidden by niceness but ultimately exposed to all (verse 26); may plan bad things for other people, but would actually fall a victim to it themselves (verse 27); liars who hate those that they victimize, flatterers who only destroy those whom they kiss up to (verse 28).

 

Of these three, only the fool has hope, while the wise Teacher really seemed to hate the lazy people and the gossips and liars.  This may be a valid judgment since if we hold these characters up to the mirror of GOD’s Word, these latter two are actually sins violating His fourth and ninth commandments, namely that of “working for six days, and holding the seventh holy as a Sabbath of rest”, and “bearing false witness (or lying) against our neighbor” (Exodus 20:8-12 and 16). 

 

True, any group of people with common interests and goals will never succeed or prosper if there is one who does not hold his share of the work. We may even consider lazy people as thieves (Exodus 20:15), for, they want to enjoy life without putting in much effort, thereby stealing from the provisions of others when they take or receive something they have not worked for or earned.  And we may also consider gossips and liars as murderers (Exodus 20:13) for, not only do they destroy good relationships, they also ruin marriages and families, ruin good futures, waste and squander wealth and fortune, deprive others of better opportunities, and kill other people’s chance to succeed and progress.

 

Maybe we should look more deeply at ourselves these days, if, in the face of this crisis, have we made ourselves fall into the trap our enemy has set for us and become like any of these people?  GOD forbid, hence, we would be better off changing our ways, start being humble, acknowledging our inadequacies and mistakes in judgment, our greediness and ignorance, our pride and conceit.  Yes, we might be humiliated, derided, made fun of and belittled as fools, but then if we are humble enough, GOD will give us grace to overcome and better ourselves (1 Peter 5:5).  May we avoid becoming these “Proverbs 26 people” so that we may ever be ready to receive the good and greater things our Maker and Savior has in store for us.