ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

 Falaite ‘Okatopa 20, 2023

The Fool

Ko e Vale

ECCLESIASTES 2:13-14

THEN I SAW THAT THERE IS MORE GAIN IN WISDOM THAN IN FOLLY, AS THERE IS MORE GAIN IN LIGHT THAN IN DARKNESS. THE WISE PERSON HAS HIS EYES IN HIS HEAD, BUT THE FOOL WALKS IN DARKNESS. AND YET I PERCEIVED THAT THE SAME EVENT HAPPENS TO ALL OF THEM.

KOHELETI 2:13-14

13 Pea u vakai ‘oku hulu ‘a e poto ‘i he fakasesele hangē ‘oku hulu ‘a e maama la‘ā ‘i he po‘uli: 14 ko e ongo fo‘i mata ‘o e poto ‘oku ‘i hono ‘ulu, ka ko e fakasesele ‘oku ha‘ele ‘i he po‘uli: ka na‘e e‘a kiate au foki ‘oku ai ha iku‘anga pē taha kiate kinaua ‘osi pē.

One might expect that Solomon, renowned for his wisdom, would have much to say about fools - and he does. Though there is more than one Hebrew word for "fool," k'sil (pronounced "ka-SEEL"), which he uses eighteen times in Ecclesiastes, seems to be his favorite. Being a k'sil has nothing to do with IQ; someone with three PhDs can be the biggest fool in the room. "The fool walks in darkness" (v. 14). He is stupid regarding daily life and insolent regarding religion. He hates knowledge (Prov. 1:22). The fool is a cancer to the lives of friends and family and community. Perhaps worst of all, a fool does not even believe himself to be a fool. He is intoxicated on the rotgut of his own faux wisdom.

Unlike the fool, the wise acknowledge one truth above all: "Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God" (1 Cor. 1:24). Conformed to him, they are transformed by the Father into bearers of his wisdom to others. Wise in Christ, they walk in the light of truth.

Dear Father, rescue us from folly and teach us the wisdom that comes from on high.