What Kind Of "Fool" Will We Be?

The Bible lists several kinds of fools. Hopefully, none of us fit into any category of the fools listed in a negative sense. However, as Christians, have we ever thought of ourselves as being a “fool“? Paul and the rest of the apostles thought of themselves as being “fools for Christ’s sake.”

Paul states in 1 Corinthians 4:10: “We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored!”

In the above verse, the term “fool” (Grk. moros – Strong’s 3474) carries with it the idea of individuals who are “dull, sluggish” (from a root muh, “to be silly”); hence, “stupid, foolish.” In today’s language, these individuals would be classified as “morons.”

The apostles were definitely considered “fools” by the world’s measurement of men — “fools” in their teaching (2 Corinthians 4:1-7; cf. Acts 17:16-18,32); “fools” in their trials and persecutions, suffered at the hands of worldly-minded men and prideful religious leaders Acts 16:16-24; Acts 23:1-2); “fools“ in being deprived of the necessities of life (1 Corinthians 4:11-12); and “fools“ in suffering slander and defamation of character (1 Corinthians 4:13).

If we were persecuted with the same degree of persecution today as the apostles suffered in the first century, would we be willing to undergo the same degree of deprivation that the apostles willingly deprived themselves of in order to preach and teach the saving gospel of Christ to a world lost in sin? (1 Corinthians 4:11-13; cf. 1 Corinthians 9:16-19).

Beloved, there’s a high possibility that we might have to undergo a similar persecution in the not-too-distant future (cf. 2 Timothy 3:13; Revelation 20:7-8). If we do, what kind of “fool” will we be?

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets