Proverbs 14:7(NLT), “Stay away from fools, for you won’t find knowledge on their lips.”
We all know people that have not tamed their tongues. Some are gossipers, others will curse you out in a second and think nothing of it. They’ve never learned the discipline of guarding their hearts and being careful about their words. I know someone who is notorious for an undisciplined tongue. She says whatever is on her mind, but she’s entertaining and very reliable, and those around her have learned to overlook her brashness. Once, when my car was at the mechanic’s shop, she gave me a lift to pick it up. My mechanic and I are friends, and we tried to have a conversation but couldn’t because she kept interrupting. Later, he called me and said “Kim, don’t ever bring that woman back with you, she was just too much.”
When I was growing up, calling someone a fool was considered profane. It was a very unkind word, but it was also accepted that if a person’s actions were repeatedly foolish, the title was appropriate. 2Timothy 3:16-17(NKJV) says, “16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” A fool is a person that acts unwisely and does not accept wisdom, correction, or reproof. Proverbs 14:7 tells us that we should keep distance from fools because ultimately, they will not add anything spiritually beneficial to our lives.
Some of the biggest mistakes we make in life are because of toxic acquaintances. We let the wrong people get too close, and this can sabotage a Godly encounter. Heavenly Father warns us in His Word that we need to be careful about our associations. Time is precious, and we need to be about our Father’s business. This is sometimes a challenging lesson for single people to learn. They’re asking Heavenly Father for newness but want to hang on to people and things in their lives that prevent them from moving forward.
Ephesians 5:22-25(NLT) says, “22 For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 23 For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church. 24 As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything. 25 For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her.” When it comes to the people that we love; marriage will require more from us than any other relationship. It is the relationship that most resembles that of Jesus Christ and his church—the body of Christ. He is our bridegroom and we are his bride. He’s coming back for us, and this will require us to be ready when he comes. The wrong person can cause us to miss the mark. They can impede our readiness for all that God has in store. The wrong person can also cause us to miss the blessing of marriage, and this is something we must understand.
Proverbs 13:3(NLT) tells us, “3 Those who control their tongue will have a long life; opening your mouth can ruin everything.” God instructs us to be wise in our everyday dealings with people whose tongues are undisciplined. We must seek the Holy Spirit about those we give access into our lives, because he will help us discern. Many individuals that are around us daily have hearts that are far from God. They have their own agendas and your spiritual well-being is not one of them. We simply don’t have the luxury of allowing them to sway us in any way.
The bottom line is that a fool can be injurious to your faith. We must remember that we don’t belong to ourselves. 1Corinthians 6:20 tells us that God bought us with a high price, and this price was the life of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Our Heavenly Father knows what is best, and if we are not obedient to His Word and Will while we’re single, then we will not be as committed to Him as we should when we’re married. Before our husbands arrive, we must do some housekeeping to spiritually prepare. So, don’t fall under the assumption that you do not need to change. Before the blessing of meeting our future spouses, we must allow some things to fall off. It’s not always easy, but it is necessary to stay away from fools, and to keep their influence far away from our future marital union as well. ■
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“Stay Away from Fools” written by Kim Times, edited by Fran Mack and K. Stephens for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2023. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord!