Proverbs 26:1-12 — If the shoe DOESN'T fit

READ THIS: Proverbs 26:1-12

1 Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, honor is not fitting for a fool. 2 Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest. 3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools! 4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him. 5 Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes. 6 Sending a message by the hands of a fool is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison. 7 Like the useless legs of one who is lame is a proverb in the mouth of a fool. 8 Like tying a stone in a sling is the giving of honor to a fool. 9 Like a thornbush in a drunkard’s hand is a proverb in the mouth of a fool. 10 Like an archer who wounds at random is one who hires a fool or any passer-by. 11 As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly. 12 Do you see a person wise in their own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for them.

WHAT’S THIS MEAN, ANYWAY?

You ever hear that phrase "if the shoe fits...?" That saying just means that you have to accept what is true instead of denying it. But, sometimes, there are things that DON'T fit. The full phrase is actually "if the shoe fits, wear it." So...if the shoe doesn't fit, don't wear it! AND don't make other people wear it if it doesn't fit them. 

Here is a list of things that DON'T fit based on these verses:
  • Don't fit:
    • Honor and a fool
    • Undeserved curses
    • Answering a fool with more foolishness
    • Trusting a fool
    • Respecting a fool, no matter what he/she is quoting
    • Expectations and a fool
So almost all of those have to do with a fool. Remember, a fool in the Biblical sense is someone who is not moral (so we aren't talking about dumb-in-the-head people but instead dumb-in-the-heart people). When someone has proven themselves to be amoral, we shouldn't put them in places that require morality, like in places of honor/trust or in important conversations. A fool doesn't fit there. 

There is one thing that didn't fit that didn't have to do with a fool. Thing thing is undeserved curses. We shouldn't look at someone and curse them when they don't deserve it. But, what's crazy, is that we ALL deserve to be cursed. In the Old Testament, there was this whole moment where Moses makes it clear that those who do not follow the law deserve curses (Deuteronomy 27). But, God looked at us and said that He didn't WANT that curse to fit us, and instead He let Jesus take all the curses we deserved by letting Him die on the cross in our place. Now, for us, not only is it important for us to not curse people when they don't deserve it, but we need to also bless people when they don't deserve it, just like Jesus did for us...even though THAT shoe certainly doesn't fit. 

THINK ABOUT IT:

1. How can you tell when to give something something that they don't deserve and when to make sure not to give them that thing? 

2. When is a time when you got something you didn't deserve? When is a time that you thought you deserved something but then you didn't get it...and looking back, it's good that you didn't?

TRY THIS:
 
Think of a person that you would consider a fool. How should you treat that person???

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