“Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.” Proverbs 26:4,5
Devotional Thought For The Day
These two verses caused conversation among the ancient Rabbis, and later on among Christian scholars. The resolution to what appears on the surface to be a blatant contradiction is not at all that difficult. The difference in whether or not to “answer a fool according to his folly” and how we are to “answer a fool according to his folly” is found in the contrasting results. The first verse warns against becoming foolish by the manner in which we converse with a foolish person. The second verse warns against allowing a foolish person to grow in absurd conceit by leaving his ridiculous statements unrebutted. Both courses of action are calamitous – the first to ourselves, the second to the fool and any other foolish people who may be swayed and convinced by his foolishness. The interactions of Jesus with His detractors, His enemies, and people who were challenged by His teaching but genuinely interested in the kingdom of God, is quite helpful in discerning the wisdom and proper application of these two proverbs. They were placed together, and in seeming contradiction, precisely to pique our interest and draw us into careful consideration of how to deal with folly and foolishness. Unfortunately, there is more than ample need for us to learn how to exercise wisdom in dealing with such foolishness.
There is other help given in Holy Scripture in dealing wisely with this commonly recurring phenomenon. First, Jesus urges us to “continue in His Word,” so that we may know the truth and be freed by the truth. [John 8:31,32] Likewise, Paul urges us to continue in God’s Word, Holy Scripture; that it is completely reliable and fully sufficient for everything we need to know and understand regarding faith and salvation and a good and wise life. [2 Tim. 3:14-17] If we are thoroughly catechized in Holy Scripture we will be able to discern folly [error and foolishness], and not become befuddled or entrapped by it. Second, we are warned about “empty words” and “words taught by human wisdom,” and “controversies and quarrels about words.” [Eph. 5:6; 1 Cor. 2:13; 1 Tim. 6:4] Likewise we are warned about “philosophy” and the “empty deceit” of “human traditions.” [Col. 2:8] We are warned to “test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.” [1 John 4:1] We do so by comparing their teaching to that of God’s Word, the Bible. We are also warned of the futility of continuous and ongoing conversation with such errorists and heretics: “A man that is a heretic after the first and second admonition reject;” and “Mark those who cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which you have learned; and avoid them.” [Tit. 3:10; Rom. 16:17]
So we are encouraged first to gain wisdom from God’s Word so that folly is immediately evident to us. We are thus preserved from becoming infected with the folly, and from engaging in useless wrangling and argument over “words” and the deceitful use of language. We are trained to keep our eye on the target – the truth from God’s Word, Holy Scripture, so that we are effective in rebutting the folly. And when we encounter those who foolishly teach contrary to God’s Word and refuse to be corrected by it, we reject and avoid them, not giving any weight or credence to their folly. This is how the proverbs [God’s Words] urge us both to answer, and not to answer, foolishness and folly. Certainly it takes time and effort to learn God’s Word and to gain discernment, and to control our emotions so that we deal wisely with foolishness, and all of us continue growing in our ability to implement the wisdom of these proverbs in our lives. To the degree that we are able to gain this wisdom and employ it, we will be able to avoid futility and accomplish the greatest good possible – even if that is nothing more than knowing when to leave and to shake the dust off of our feet. [Matt. 10:14]
Prayer For The Day
Dear Lord Jesus, we know Your love for the truth, and the health and vitality that truth brings. This is why You hate the evil of falsehood, lies, and folly. Knowing the truth of Your Word, and the freedom that it brings to us, we too are compelled to confront folly and advocate for truth. Help us to learn to do so wisely, in accord with Your Word, so that we are not entrapped in falsehood or foolish in how we argue against it. Help us to learn from You, that we be effective for good and at peace with our ministry of Your Word. Amen.