Spiritual Minute: Daily Devotional

Yesterday I took a cab from my hotel in Malaysia to the mall (all of you who have been to my house, stop judging me). I entered the cab and the driver immediately tells me the cost of the ride. I said okay and he informed me that he does not speak any English. Not a problem for me, all I needed him to do was know how to drive.

I later realized when I got back to the hotel; per my concierge, he had charged me a highly exaggerated price for the ride. My interpretation was that he thought if I questioned him regarding the pricing, he could make pretend he did not understand. Despite his initial statement, midway in our ride, Mr. No Speak English decides he wants to start a conversation. Here's how it went:

Him: Where are you from?

Me: The US

Him: Is that in Africa?

Me: No, America

Him: What city?

Me: Dallas, Georgia

Him: Ah, now I know, Zimbabwe

Me: *Side eye* silence...

I thought about that as I reflected on the proverbial text written in Proverbs 26:4 it says-

"Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him".

The Hebrew word for fool is “nābāl” meaning “stupid; wicked. You might be saying preacher, how can you identify a fool? I'm glad you asked! Here is a few things the word says about the personality of a fool:

Fools are unwise- Deuteronomy 32:6- “Is this the way you repay the LORD, you foolish and unwise people? Is he not your Father, your Creator, who made you and formed you?”

Fools are immoral - Proverbs 14:9 –“Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour”

Fools run their mouth - Ecclesiastes 5:3- “A dream comes when there are many cares, and many words mark the speech of a fool”

Yes, I could keep going because the bible repeats lessons on personality traits of a fool and foolish behavior, over and over again. My point is, that God has given us specific instruction on how to deal with both. Now the rest of that text speaks for itself in Proverbs 26 verses 5- 11 NIV

Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit. He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools. As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool. As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouths of fools. The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors. As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.

Now that you have redefined in your mind what a fool looks and acts like, touch your neighbor and tell them " In 2017, I'm done with talking to fools".

Selah