Being Foolish

Photo by Faye Cornish on Unsplash

Proverbs 9: 1-6 & Ephesians 5: 15-20

Roger Lynn

July 26, 2020

(CLICK HERE for the audio of this sermon)

(CLICK HERE for the video of this sermon)

Don’t be foolish! Mothers and fathers all over the planet can be heard telling their children this bit of advice. Teachers speak it sternly to their students who are goofing off in the back of the classroom. We even say it to ourselves as we try very hard to make a good first impression on people we hope will like us. It seems like a solid piece of wisdom to heed. But what exactly it means to be foolish, and whether or not it is ever a good thing to be that way, are questions which are very much open for debate.

In the book of Proverbs we find the wonderful image of Wisdom throwing a party. She has cleaned the house, gotten out the best linens, the fancy china, and grandma’s silverware. The servants have been cooking for days, preparing a mouthwatering assortment of wonderful food. She has plumbed the depths of the wine cellar for the very best vintage. And the embossed invitations are being hand delivered. There is only one pre-requisite for making it onto the guest list for this party. You must be a fool – simple – without sense. At first glance it appears as if it is Wisdom who has lost her senses. But upon further examination it seems quite noble and charming. It is an enlightenment party. Help the lost to find their way. Tutor the ignorant. Re-direct those who have somehow gone astray. It is a party to help people who just “don’t get it.” 

The problem, of course, is that when we are in that position, when it is us who just doesn’t get it, we don’t know that we don’t get it. That is part of what it means to not get it. Part of what’s embarrassing about watching someone who is being foolish is that they don’t realize they are being foolish. So the idea of a throwing a party is actually a pretty good plan. Entice us to come with the promise of having a really good time. And once we get there, and start having that really good time, perhaps we will be more receptive to being more like the hostess of the party – Wisdom. Maybe we will begin to realize that the only really foolish people are those who ignore the invitation to the party.

The writer of the Letter to the Ephesians wasn’t in quite as festive a mood, but tries to make a similar point nonetheless. Be wise and not foolish. Stay connected to God, because that is finally the source of true and genuine joy. Everything else is short-lived and ultimately unsatisfying. In the text from John’s Gospel that we read last Sunday, Jesus declares that he is the Bread of Life. Find the party where the deliciously nourishing bread is being serve, and then make sure to eat your fill.

Don’t be foolish! Except we don’t really have a choice. The only real choice we have is what kind of fool we will be. According to Proverbs, being foolish is being out of touch with the source of true Wisdom. According to Ephesians, being foolish is being self-centered and self-indulgent, which is actually just another way of saying the same thing. And according to both Proverbs and Ephesians, being “wise” is allowing ourselves to be filled with God and allowing that Divine Presence to guide our lives. And there is the rub. According to the world’s wisdom, voluntarily giving up control isn’t just foolish, it’s downright stupid. So whose kind of foolish are we going to be? Much of what we hear in the world around us would have us believe that it is wise to look out for number one and go for the gusto. If it feels good, we should definitely do it, because we might not ever get another chance. And there would seem to be strong evidence to support such a position. Those who follow such a philosophy often seem to make out pretty well, at least in the short term. Life’s a party and everything is going their way – at least until the chips and beer run out. On the other hand, we can choose to seek wisdom by trusting in the true Life of the party. “Don’t get drunk with wine, but be filled with the Spirit,” the writer of Ephesians says. It’s more exhilarating, the bottle is never empty, and there’s no hangover in the morning. “I am the Bread of Life,” Jesus says. It’s party food that is also nourishing, and the supply is endless.

There are people who get drunk to loosen their inhibitions enough so that they will get a little bit foolish and a little bit out of control. They somehow find it thrilling. But perhaps the real thrill would be to get a whole lot foolish and completely out of control by giving ourselves over completely to God. It’s definitely not safe, because you just never can tell where God might lead you. But the party will be more fun because everyone will be there, you’ll remember it tomorrow, and the host wants you to have the time of your life.

One way or the other we’re going to end up being foolish. The only question is, what kind of fools are we going to be? Wisdom is throwing a party and she is hoping we are foolish enough to accept the invitation.