No Honor for Fools . . . Proverbs 26:1

Like snow in summer and like rain in harvest, So honor is not fitting for a fool. Proverbs 26:1

Proverbs spends a great deal of time on a few issues.  Among these are wisdom, finances, our words, and discernment.  Another of the issues it deals with is the fool.  We can learn a great deal about what it means to be a fool - his conduct, his words, and his actions.  This is given to us not so that we can be better fools, but rather so that we can avoid being a fool - and - so that we can avoid the company of fools.

Our society honors fools.  If you don't think that is true - take a closer look at who often wins political elections.  Take a look at those in the sporting world whose only ability is that of being skilled at a game - but who's character lacks greatly.  Take a look at the honor given to Hugh Hefner, the founder of Playboy.  These people are fools - yet our society gives them honor that they do not deserve.  As a result of this - people are drawn to them.  This in turn leads to people aping their lifestyles and their choices.  Societal disaster results. 

I love the way that the proverb makes it clear how inappropriate it is to give honor to a fool.  It is like experiencing snow in the summer.  That is something that we know is not normal - nor is it desired.  Snow in summer would wreak havoc on the crops that we grow for our food.  It would mean that the temperatures would drop to a point where the land and animals would be grossly affected - and that negatively.  Snow is not fitting in summer.  Neither is rain in the harvest.  The natural run of things is that we have a drying spell in the fall prior to the harvest.  In the fall of 2009 that was not the case.  We had day after day of rain - heavy rains.  That was not fitting - it was not good.  There were numerous crops that were damaged, while others were destroyed completely.  Rain in the harvest is not a good thing. 

Now, let us take this example and apply it.  Giving honor to a fool is not good - it is not fitting.  As I stated earlier, Hugh Hefner (founder of Playboy) is given honor in our society.  This is not good.  His actions and business has done irrepairable harm to millions of men - and has been the catalyst for adultery, sexual immorality, and lewdness in our society.  He has made it far more acceptible to treat women as mere objects and has also put into men's minds that the life of the playboy is the way to live.  His influence will result in untold numbers of people engaging in sexual misconduct.  When you consider the number of people who will contract sexually transmitted diseases - who will pass them on to others - and even those innocent wives whose husbands infect them  with syphillis, herpes, and even AIDS - you begin to see the damage.  This is not a man deserving of honor.  This is a fool.  He is a man who mocks God and God's ways.  He is a man who will deceive millions to adopt his lifestyle and ruin their lives.  Thus you see what damage is done due to honoring a fool. 

Saints of God - avoid the fool.  But more than just avoiding him - avoid giving any additional honor to him.  The fool will one day pay the price for his foolishness.  But for now - his foolishness, if exalted in our society, will do great harm and damage.  Do not bring the snow in summer or the rain in harvest.  Speak and do that which is right and proper in God's sight.  That is the way to bring honor and blessing to your posterity and to your nation.  The way of the fool only brings harm.