THINK TOGETHER.
Do you know what the word repentance means?
READ TOGETHER
Proverbs 26:5. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
OK, this is confusing. Yesterday we read Proverbs 26:4 which said "Answer not a fool," and today we read the very next verse which says the exact opposite, "Answer a fool."
So should we answer fools or not? Well, that's where wisdom comes in. Often in life there is not only one answer. Often it depends on the situation. Sometimes we should not answer a fool, and sometimes we should.
So when should we answer a fool? Well, Solomon's answer in verse five is when we think that the fool will listen and stop being wise in his own eyes.
Remember what we said yesterday, there are different kinds of fools. A simple fool might listen when you answer them, turn from their sin, and start making good choices. But a scoffing or scorning fool might never listen to you. The fool is someone who is not trusting God. Sometimes people will start trusting God, and sometimes they won't. When fools (people who don't trust God) turn from their foolishness and begin to trust God that is called repentance. When we answer a fool, God might just use us to help them to repent, turn from their foolishness, and start to trust God.
In the Bible the Pharaoh of Egypt was a scoffing fool who would never repent. But King Nebuchadnezzar was a fool who repented and trusted God (at least for a while). Some of the great kings in the Bible were fools who repented – Joash and Josiah (do you know their stories?). Paul was also a fool who repented, trusted in Jesus, and became a great missionary. But Judas was a fool who didn't repent.
We all start out as fools from the time we are born. Simple fools. The question is will we repent when our foolishness is answered, or will we become even more foolish like the scoffing fool? And then one day it is too late to listen. Why not be wise and trust in Jesus today and every day?
Because of Jesus we have wisdom to know how to trust God.
With Jesus we can repent of our foolishness when it isanswered by God's word.
DO SOMETHING TOGETHER
If you have time read about King Josiah in 2 Kings 22-23. Was he wise or a fool?
PRAY TOGETHER
Jesus, I know I can be honest with you and repent because you love me. Amen.
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