Last time we began looking at the characteristics of fools. Everybody is prone to foolishness but by taking the necessary precautions you can avoid being foolish. Nobody wants to be called a fool but many times, people do things that qualify them to be so described. You must avoid foolishness ad also know how to deal with fools. People who constantly exhibit (and refuse to be helped to change) foolish traits and characteristics are not people you should encourage to be in your circle of influence.
We saw that fools are prone to anger and disagreements. Also we saw that fools waste their time and squander opportunities. Thirdly we saw that fools have no investments .
Today we look at some other characteristics.
- Fools don’t investigate facts before making a decision/judgment.
“Wise people think before they act, fools don’t and even brag about it.” Proverbs 13:16 New Living Translation.
“What a shame, what folly to give advice before listening to the facts.” Proverbs 18:13 New Living Translation.
If your life will count, you need friends and associates who will be thorough. You need people around you who don’t just accept whatever they are told or whatever they see without thinking. You need people who investigate facts before making decisions and judgments. It is foolishness to jump into conclusions before hearing the other side.
“Any story sounds true until someone tells the other side and sets the records straight.” Proverbs 18:17 Living Bible.
- Fools Slander People
“He that publishes an ill-report the same is a fool” Proverbs10:18 New Living Translation.
Whenever you see anybody talking ill of people without justification, be careful because that person is on the slippery road to folly.
- Fools insist on their own opinion.
“If you don’t educate yourself, you’ll never get out of the starting block because you’ll spend all your money making foolish decisions.” Daymond John
You do not want to closely associate with people who will not listen to you or take into consideration other people’s advice. You need to cultivate relationships with people who listen, evaluate and consider other people’s opinions.
“Fools have no interest in understanding; they only want to air their own opinions.” Proverbs 18:2 New Living Translation.
- Fools think they need no advice.
“Ordinary fools are all right; you can talk to them, and try to help them out. But pompous fools — guys who are fools and are covering it all over and impressing people as to how wonderful they are with all this hocus pocus — THAT, I CANNOT STAND! An ordinary fool isn’t a faker; an honest fool is all right. But a dishonest fool is terrible!” Richard Feynman
“Fools think they need no advice but the wise listen to others.” Proverbs 12:15 New Living Translation.
You must not only know what relationships to avoid, you must also know what relationships to cultivate.
- Fools speak hastily.
“Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.” Proverbs 29.20.
“The difference between a wise and foolish man is this–the former sees much, thinks much, and speaks little; but the latter speaks more than he either sees or thinks.” William Scott Downey
CONCLUDED.
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