Foolishness

Many of Jesus’ parables are about wisdom and foolishness. Even if the word “wise” is omitted, we see “foolish” and “fool” in Jesus’ parables. Clearly He is showing us the importance of wisdom.


One of the enemies of wisdom is haste, for those who are hasty want their reward in the moment. They do not have their wills surrendered to the Lord. Hastiness has a direct link to foolishness, but a patient man has understanding, which is the precursor to wisdom (Prov 14:29). Godly people make plans that lead to profit, and hasty people come to ruin (Prov 21:5). The following parables show that wisdom is a matter of how we plan to use our resources and our time.

Jesus told a parable about two men who built houses. The first man built his foundation on rock, and the second built his foundation on sand (Mt 7:24-27). Building on rock represents hearing Jesus’ words and putting them into practice. Building on sand, then, represents those who do not put Jesus’ words into practice. James tells us that, “Any man who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.” (Jm 4:16) Ignoring the wisdom of Jesus’ words is not only foolishness, but leads to sin. The man who built on sand came to ruin because of the storms that entered his life. Though he had the rock to build on, it was less work to build on the sand. Wisdom is given to us so that we can prosper. Jesus wants our works to last.

In looking at the parable about the five foolish virgins, some think their rejection by Jesus seems harsh (Mt 25:1-13). All ten of the virgins waited for their Lord. All of them slept, and arose when the herald announced that the bridegroom was coming. But the wise virgins realized that the oil that kept their lamps lit wasn’t something they could give to the foolish virgins. The problem was that there wasn’t enough time. What was there not enough time for?

The oil for the virgin’s lamps was the holiness wrought over time by putting Jesus’ words into practice. They had an acquaintance with the Lord that the foolish virgins did not have. Though they all had the same opportunity to build this relationship with the bridegroom, only the wise virgins put in the time and practice to build the relationship. They could not impart to the foolish virgins what they had, as it would have taken up the time appointed for their fellowship with Jesus. The foolish virgins had wasted their time. We forget God’s word unless we put it into practice (Jms 1:23-24). Because the foolish virgins did not spend time getting to know Jesus through His word, He said He did not know them (Mt 25:12). Jesus ends this parable saying “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” Wise people make their time count, and therefore will have the oil of holiness to keep their lamps burning for the bridegroom.

We live in a hasty time . . . a time when immediate rewards and ease seem more important than putting Jesus’ words into practice. Yet He left us a clear message that the wise would enter His kingdom and the foolish would not. Today let us be patient, faithful, leaning into the Lord for understanding of word, and above all . . . let us put the words of Jesus into practice. Amen.