January 20, 2010

FOOLISH IS AS FOOLISH DOES

Key Verse

"The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God.' . . . All have turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one." (Psalm 14:1a, 3)

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Central Truth

Wisdom is not just believing the right things. It is acting on what we believe.

Reflections

One of the key themes of both the Psalms and Proverbs is the difference between being wise and being foolish. The Hebrew language describes several different types of foolish people. The peti is a person who is open to being influenced by others. They can't think for themselves. The kesil is a person who does not listen. The foolish person in Psalm 14 is the nabal. The nabal has a lifestyle that forces them to deny key truths in life. David tells us in Psalm 14 that the nabal lives a life that is not honoring to God. They have decided to drive the bus themselves. Because they do not want to change their lives, they have convinced themselves that God does not exist. It is a dialogue that they have in their own hearts. 

As a church family, most of us would never say to ourselves or others that God does not exist. However, each of us has areas in our lives where we have not allowed God to have His say. So while we may say and believe that God exists, from a practical perspective we live as though He does not. We know what the Bible tells us to do, but in our hearts we say, "There is no God in this area of my life (but me)."

For me one of those areas is worry. I worship the God of what if. The problem with worry is that it causes me to take matters into my own hands. I leave God out of the equation. I live like a nabal. I say in my heart, "If I don't manage this, no one else will" (translated - there is no God in this area of worry). There are so many areas of our lives where we can live like nabals. Maybe we have never reached out to our friends and co-workers with the gospel. Maybe we have never trusted God with our finances. 

The good news is that deliverance is one grace moment away. God is waiting to deliver us and help us live the abundant life.

Discussion Questions

1. What do you think the difference is between a person who honestly doubts God and the nabal?

2. What are the areas of your life in which you are living as if God does not exist?

3. What will you do this week to let God into one of those areas?

Comments

The views expressed under “Comments” are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Hill Country Bible Church NW.

  1. Chip Smith

    January 20, 2010 05:56 AM

    Hello Eric: We have five dogs and on any given day, we take care of up to 30 dogs. Both my wife Diana, and our younger son, Trevor, are dog whisperers. We learn so much about God's acceptance, forgiveness, and love from our dogs. I am able to be a nabal at any moment of each day. As I read your log this morning, especially your phrase, "deliverance is one grace moment away," I thought about Wendy Francisco's song, "GoD and DoG:" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H17edn_RZoY. Thank you for today's log and the assignments.

  2. randy

    January 20, 2010 07:00 AM

    Thank you Eric for reminding us this morning that deliverance is one grace moment away! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u55O7gk3RY0

  3. Ted Davenport

    January 20, 2010 08:07 AM

    Eric, I really appreciate your devo this morning. Very well put and very transparent regarding your tendancy to worry. Thanks for sharing this with us today.

  4. Mary Ann

    January 20, 2010 08:22 AM

    Talk about hittin' the nail on the head!!!!

  5. Dave Victor

    January 20, 2010 08:39 AM

    Eric, Your comments this AM rang true. In some areas I live as if God does not exist an in others I have displaced His existance with an idol of my own making. I spent some time in repentance before our gracious Father this morning. Appreciate you brother.

  6. Val Dugone

    January 20, 2010 08:40 AM

    Ouch, in a good way. Between God's Word, the Holy Spirit and your devo, I think God's trying to tell me something!!

  7. Jo Newell

    January 20, 2010 09:04 AM

    Thank you, Eric, for the great reminder. It made me go back to one of my favorite quotes by Oswald Chambers, "The only thing that will keep us from even the possibility of worrying is to bring God in as the greatest factor in all of our planning." I need to hear it often!

  8. David Redding

    January 20, 2010 09:09 AM

    Great job EH, appreciate your widom and knowledge. I worried that I might not have time to do the JTJ this morning, huh, may be a worry and control issue there, ya think! Thanks for helping me see the blind spots. Thanks bro.

  9. Greg Grimes

    January 20, 2010 09:38 AM

    What a coincidence. My QT was II Tim 1:12 - "I know Whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day." It was all about if I believed, then what will He do with what I leave to Him. Hmmm. There's nothing like starting the day being double-teamed. Thanks, bro.

  10. Norma Harais

    January 20, 2010 10:55 AM

    Great devo! It reminded me instantly of how we speak of "selective memory". One definition of it is "People who block out unpleasant memories or issues may enjoy short-term gains but emotionally detaching themselves causes long-term consequences." I'm definitely selective when it comes to allowing God's control in my life, and I know I ultimately lose out because of it. Thanks Eric, for the great reminder to put God first in EVERYTHING!

  11. Cindy Hawks

    January 20, 2010 11:29 AM

    Hey Eric! Great to know that I can be a fool in three different ways! Truly, those three different words are helpful to me to be more self-aware of foolishness in my life. Where am I being influenced by others in the wrong direction? Where am I refusing to listen? Where have I cut God out completely? Thanks for the wisdom on my foolishness! Cindy

  12. Wendy Allen

    January 20, 2010 12:28 PM

    Good job speaking truth into our lives, brother. I'm thankful for the reminder in this that there are - big sigh here - far too many times when I start trying to drive the bus myself. Praying again today to let God have His way in our lives.

  13. Barbara Heller

    January 20, 2010 01:13 PM

    Thanks for the devo this morning Eric. It's very interesting to consider the three different ways to be foolish! I am certainly asking God to reveal to me the areas where I am a peti, a kesil and a nabal! Oh and by the way, my sister did the same thing in Sears when she was little!

  14. Mitch

    January 20, 2010 02:05 PM

    Mr.Hoehn, Thank you for the encouragement today. Your word came at just the right time. Also to my big brother for sending it to me.

  15. Bob A. King

    January 21, 2010 08:26 PM

    Eric, I really enjoyed the word study and your great application of the truths that study revealed. Thanks for the insight and wisdom.

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Eric Hoehn

Eric Hoehn

My name is Eric Hoehn. It has been my privilege to serve on the pastoral staff of HCBC NW since 2007. I have been married to my wonderful wife, Caren, since 1986. We have four dogs, and my hobbies include playing classical guitar, reading, and cooking. My favorite musical group is the Beatles. I love to watch old movies from the 1930's and 1940's. 

Most people don't know that when I was very small, I thought the bathroom displays in the Sears store were for public use. I'll leave the rest to your imagination.