1 April 2023 - April Fools

On April 1st, people stretch the truth and then announce April Fools. While April Fool’s Day leaves people laughing in good, clean fun, the Scriptures refer to a fool as no laughing matter. Scripture described a fool as generally someone who lives life as though God and God’s will were of no consequence.

The English word fool comes from the Latin follis meaning foolish. It’s connected to the word for bellows (think organ) or a leather bag filled with air (windbag). While Scripture does not speak about April Fool’s Day, it does speak quite a bit about different types of fools and that is what today’s topic is about.

Psalm 14:1a (NIV) The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”

Proverbs 1:7 (NIV) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 10:14 (NIV) The wise store up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool invites ruin.

1 Corinthians 1:18 (NLT) The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.

1 Corinthians 1:21 (NLT) Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never know him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe.

While I was researching what the Bible says about fools, I came across the following scripture that shows that God wants us to be sincere with one another. Proverbs 26:18-19 (GNT) Someone who tricks someone else and then claims that he was only joking is like a crazy person playing with a deadly weapon.

Honesty is always speaking the truth and being totally authentic, straightforward, and transparent in our words and actions. It involves a few essential practices: never lie, never hide the truth, and never purposefully omit or misdirect people from the truth.

Luke 16:10 (NIV) "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much." 1 Timothy 1:19 (NLT) Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked.

I conclude with Psalm 119:160 (NLT) The very essence of your words is truth; all your just regulations will stand forever.