Foolishness seems to be the overriding characteristic of society today. The things going on around our nation, especially in the big cities, leaves you shaking your head in disbelief. How could people behave so incredibly selfishly, with no apparent thought of the feelings or wellbeing of others?

When primarily young people smash store windows and loot, start fires on cars, and assault policemen; when old people are attacked by young thugs; and when the flag of our country is brazenly lit on fire and desecrated, foolishness is on full display.

Has our country lost its collective mind? Is there no longer a general observance of respect for others and basic compassion? What could be behind all this chaos, causing all this unrest and rioting?

The simple answer is all the rebellious, hateful activity is man rejecting the authority of God in his life. When we exclude God from our lives, and reject the principles from His Word, we are destined to travel down a path that leads to destruction.

Foolishness is the failure to apply His truth to our lives. When we act upon our feelings, and ignore the counsel of those God has placed over us, we will fail. The book of Proverbs states, ‘There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end, thereof, are the ways of death.’ (Prov. 14:12).

Foolishness is part of the nature of toddlers. They seem to be determined to do things their own way. Tell a two-year-old not to touch something, and watch as a look of defiance overshadows them. They will immediately become committed to touching that item, no matter what. They do foolish things because they have not yet learned to obey their authority.

Somewhere along the way, young children must learn the life-saving principle of obedience. For too many, that principle is somehow missed, leaving them to go through disastrous teenage years, bucking every authority in their lives. If they don’t learn to accept their responsibility to submit by the time they are adult, their foolishness will cost them dearly.

The apostle Paul was burdened for the church at Corinth. He learned that the young church was experiencing a long list of problems. Immaturity among its members was badly hurting their reputation in the community. To them he wrote in…

1 Corinthians 14:20 Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.

Paul’s admonition is for all churches, even today. We all need a reminder to grow up a little. Especially is this seen in some of the foolish things we say and do.

Let’s commit ourselves by faith to obey those God places over us, and let’s be the ‘grownups’ we were meant to be, for His glory.