Leave His Presence

"Leave the presence of a fool, 

for there you do not meet words of knowledge."

Proverbs 14:7

As I seek to give good advice to my children and grandchildren through the Proverbs, sometimes I come across a verse that gives me something of an "uh-uh" reaction.  For some reason this one does.  It always hurts to think of avoiding someone, so I must discover who God calls a fool and why I am to leave his presence.

Therefore, my question is, "Who does God regard as a fool?"  I must go to the Scriptures to discover His heart.

• He lacks sense--Ecclesiastes 10:3
• He always thinks he's right--Proverbs 12:15
• He is quick to show his anger--Proverbs 12:6
• He is dishonorable--Proverbs 26:1
• His speech is perverse--Proverbs 19:1
• He takes the wrong paths in life--Ecclesiastes 10:2
• He despises his parents' discipline--Proverbs 15:5
• He doesn't learn from his mistakes--Proverbs 26:11
• He has no desire to get wisdom--Proverbs 17:16
• He refuses to listen to rebuke--Proverbs 17:10
• He is idle--Ecclesiastes 4:5
• He says in his heart that there is no God--Psalm 14:1
• He is corrupt and does evil--Psalm 14:1

This is not necessarily a complete list of characteristics, but with this alone we find good reason to avoid the company of  fools.  Does this mean that we are not to witness to them?  Of course we are, but having them as our bosom buddies is definitely forbidden in the Scriptures.  Choose wisely those whom you embrace as your friends and companions.

 

Thanking God for friends who love Him,

Gloria