30th June, 2022.

BEWARE OF LITTLE FOLLY

Eccl10:1 As dead flies cause even a bottle of perfume to stink, so a little foolishness spoils great wisdom and honour. NLT

My dad told the story of a man who preached a wonderful message in the bus in one of his trips those days. His message was great and everyone in the bus knew that his message was divinely inspired by the Lord. However, this man did something funny when they got to the police check point. This preacher switched over into the flesh and he angrily threw something at the police man. The bus was stopped and he was dealt with by the police. Everyone wondered why he behaved that way after preaching a powerful sermon. Even if it was a mistake, he should have begged the police man but he didn't. The police man didn't care who he was, he dealt with him properly.

Folly lurked somewhere within to rubbish his wisdom and honour. In life, we must avoid little foolishness that can erode our honour and turn our much respected wisdom into what people are scorning. Sometimes, things like this are spiritual and they happen in moments when we are not discerning. When Jesus asked his disciples who men think he was, only Peter gave a Spirit led answer: "Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”( Mt.16:16). In the next verse(17), read the response of Jesus: "Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven". He was in tune with the Spirit and He knew who Jesus was by revelation. Later, Jesus spoke about his death and how he will suffer, the same Peter who knew about the sonship of Jesus by revelation spoke against the death of Christ. Read what Jesus said in verse 23, "Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s”(Mt 16:23 NLT). Satan spoke through Peter and Jesus rebuked the devil that spoke through him.

It is possible to be in the Spirit this moment and in the flesh the next moment. That's what happened to Peter. Foolishness sets in the moment you switch from the Spirit into the flesh. Just imagine a man who preached a powerful sermon on holiness and was caught in adultery/ fornication the next moment. Isn't that foolishness? What about starting in the Spirit and ending in the flesh? Why will someone sing so powerfully and become something else the next moment? Paul said, "So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh"( Gal 5:16). Walking in the Spirit always is the only way not to be foolish. Little foolishness can manifest in our words and actions. If you don't have the right word for a matter, it is wise not to talk. Trying to have a say in everything when you don't have anything meaningful to contribute would turn-on foolishness. Acting without thinking and poor planning would turn-on folly. Also, not being led by the Spirit of God is foolishness at its peak. Be wise!