You might be a fool if …

April Fool’s Day has arrived, and with it, plenty of playful tricks and laughs shared among friends. But while pranks and jokes are fun for today, the Bible offers strong warnings against actually living as a fool. Proverbs and other wisdom literature in Scripture describe the fool as someone who lives with disregard for wisdom, righteousness, and the fear of the Lord.

Scripture indicates you might be a fool if …

You reject wisdom and understanding. Proverbs 1:22, “How long, you simpletons, will you insist on being simpleminded? How long will you mockers relish your mocking? How long will you fools hate knowledge?” The Bible warns that a fool is one who rejects knowledge and wisdom. This verse emphasizes how fools mock the wise and despise knowledge. Living without wisdom is dangerous, and it leads one to foolish decisions that distance them from God’s guidance.

You trust in your own understanding rather than God’s. Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” To trust in one’s own understanding without seeking God is a fool’s mistake. Scripture calls us to trust in God’s wisdom, which far exceeds anything we can grasp on our own. A fool relies only on their own reasoning, neglecting divine guidance.

You deny God exists. Psalm 14:1, “Only fools say in their hearts, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, and their actions are evil; not one of them does good.” Here, the Bible makes it clear that anyone who denies God’s existence is a fool. This statement isn’t just about atheism in a technical sense; it speaks to those who live their lives as if God doesn’t matter or isn’t involved in their everyday reality. Denial of God leads to corruption and evil actions.

You refuse to take correction. Proverbs 12:1, “To learn, you must love discipline; it is stupid to hate correction.” A fool despises correction and doesn’t learn from their mistakes. The wise embrace discipline because they understand that it leads to growth. Refusing to listen to wise counsel is a sure sign of foolishness.

You are quick to speak and slow to listen. Proverbs 18:2, “Fools have no interest in understanding; they only want to air their own opinions.” Being quick to speak and slow to listen is a behavior often found in fools. This verse warns that people who always have something to say but never take the time to understand others lack wisdom. True wisdom involves listening and seeking understanding before speaking.

You live for today without considering eternity. Luke 12:19-20, “And I’ll sit back and say to myself, ‘My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?'” This parable from Jesus speaks of a man who lived only for himself and focused on the temporary pleasures of life without regard for what was to come. Living only for today without considering the eternity that awaits is foolishness, according to scripture.

You make plans without seeking God’s will. James 4:13-16, “Look here, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.’ How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog — it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, ‘If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.’ Otherwise you are boasting about your own pretentious plans, and all such boasting is evil.” Planning without recognizing God’s sovereignty is a fool’s way of thinking. James reminds us that life is uncertain, and our plans should always be held loosely, acknowledging God’s will in everything.

You live without reverence for God. Proverbs 1:7, “Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.” The fear of the Lord, a reverential awe and respect for God, is central to true wisdom. A fool lacks this reverence and, as a result, despises wisdom and discipline. To fear the Lord is to begin the path to understanding, but the fool ignores this truth.

A fool laughs at wisdom, rejects correction, and lives as if God does not matter. Scripture does not treat actual foolishness as a trivial issue but as a path to destruction. Wisdom calls out, offering life to those who will listen. The question is not whether fools exist, it is whether a person will remain one or turn to the Lord for understanding.

Scotty