“Excellent speech does not benefit a fool [who is spiritually blind], Much less do lying lips benefit a prince.” Proverbs 17:7 AMP

Today we see an interesting concept at play. The opening of the verse is talking about the foolishness of having a self-deceived leader that pretends to know something! Matthew Hennery in his commentary writes, “What can be more unbecoming than when fools, who are known to be liars and have little sense or discretion, to pretend to that which is above them and which they were never cut out for!” Speaking flattering, impressive words written by someone else does not prove a man wise. Solomon warns us in earlier Proverbs that a wicked man, who’s excellence of speech does not give life to a lie. Notice here that we are told a fool is one who is Spiritually blind to the truth of life! Part of deception is that a lie sounds like good truth. Remember the garden? If you eat from the tree, then you will be like God! The reality was that if they ate from the tree, they would become the furthest away from God. It sounded good, but the was not! Remember now that a fool is someone who knows the truth but refuses to abide by it! The fool sees himself as wise, yet he is senseless and destructive in all his actions. We read in chapter 26,

“When he speaks graciously and kindly [to conceal his malice], do not trust him, For seven abominations are in his heart. 26Though his hatred covers itself with guile and deceit, His malevolence will be revealed openly before the assembly.”

Proverbs 26:25-26 AMP

The only answer to the problem of the fool is for him to admit to himself that he is what he is! I remember as I remember my salvation journey; it began as I read the book of Proverbs. There are 3 amin characters in the book, the fool, the naive, and the wise man. That night as I read, the Holy Spirit allowed me to see that I was the fool! You see the naïve man just doesn’t know the truth. The wise man knows the truth and acts on it. The fool however knows the truth and deceives himself into believing the opposite! That night I remember breaking down in tears wanting to be the wise man who loved God and walked in His ways. The Apostle John wrote,

“Even though He had done so many signs (attesting miracles) right before them, yet they still did not believe and failed to trust Him– 38This was to fulfill what Isaiah the prophet said: “LORD, WHO HAS BELIEVED OUR MESSAGE? AND TO WHOM HAS THE ARM (the power) OF THE LORD BEEN SHOWN (unveiled, revealed)?” 39Therefore they could not believe, for Isaiah said again, 40“HE HAS BLINDED THEIR EYES AND HE HARDENED THEIR HEART, TO KEEP THEM FROM SEEING WITH THEIR EYES AND UNDERSTANDING WITH THEIR HEART AND BEING CONVERTED; OTHERWISE, I [their God] WOULD HEAL THEM.” 

John 12:37-40 AMP

I am grateful that God sent the holy Spirit that night to open my eyes to the reality of my life. The choice however remained with me. Reject the reality of my life and die or accept it and live! Each of us face the moment when we must decide what is the truth of our spiritual condition. Paul put it well.

“For even though they knew God [as the Creator], they did not [e]honor Him as God or give thanks [for His wondrous creation]. On the contrary, they became worthless in their thinking [godless, with pointless reasonings, and silly speculations], and their foolish heart was darkened. 22Claiming to be wise, they became fools,”

Romans 1:21-22 AMP

And what was the result of rejecting God’s way?

“And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God or consider Him worth knowing [as their Creator], God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do things which are improper and repulsive, 29until they were filled (permeated, saturated) with every kind of unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice and mean-spiritedness. They are gossips [spreading rumors],30slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors [of new forms] of evil, disobedient and disrespectful to parents, 31without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful [without pity]. 32Although they know God’s righteous decree and His judgment, that those who do such things deserve death, yet they not only do them, but they even [enthusiastically] approve and tolerate others who practice them. 

Romans 1:27-32 AMP

I cannot think of a better description of the condition of man today than these verses. What is your choice today? Will you humble yourself and experience the goodness of God or will you reject the truth and deceive yourself and experience the death and destruction of sin? Have a blessed day, Pastor Ken