Lauriault: Don't be fooled into wrong conclusion

If your Quay County Sun comes in the mail, don’t be fooled by the date on the paper today. It’s April 2nd and if the paper says that something will happen today, don’t plan to attend the event. You’ve already missed out.

There’re a lot of things that can fool (mislead or deceive) us into drawing the wrong conclusions and facing the consequences of acting upon those conclusions. The least of those consequences is missing out on prosperity due to being known as a fool (1 Samuel 25:1-42; Psalm 19:3). When the world considers Christians to be fools because of our beliefs, our prosperity also can be hampered; however, there are some Christians who’ve been prospered by God because of their attitude about the wealth he provides (this doesn’t mean that all Christians will be wealthy; just that they can be prosperous).

The greatest consequence of foolishness comes to those who’ve said in their heart that God doesn’t exist (Psalm 14:1). But, declaring the nonexistence of God doesn’t have to be an intentional thought. Following any teaching that falls short of the whole counsel of God is foolish, even if it is based in the fact that there is a God (Acts 20:26-31; Hebrews 12:15; Romans 10:1-4; 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12).

Declaring the nonexistence of God also can be as simple as giving no thought to the fact that there’s a God to whom we’re accountable or in not giving him the honor he deserves for the good he’s done for us (Psalm 10:4; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Romans 1:18-32). That was the rich farmer’s fault (Luke 12:13-21). He was rich and getting richer, but he was storing it all up for himself rather than being rich toward God (Matthew 6:19-21, 33). Having wealth isn’t wrong; being rich toward God is often based in how we use our worldly wealth.

Jesus expects us to work honorably to support ourselves and our families and to share some of the excess with others as they have need (Ephesians 4:28; Acts 4:32-35). Not sharing with others is as foolish as dishonest gain, because Jesus takes it personally (Jeremiah 17:10-11; Philippians 2:1-5; Matthew 25:31-46). Another rich man mentioned by Luke learned that lesson the hard way (Luke 16:19-26). Like the rich and getting richer farmer of Luke chapter 12, this man’s problem wasn’t in being rich. It was in not taking advantage of an opportunity God placed right under his nose to help one in need when he had plenty of the wherewithal to meet the need (Proverbs 3:27-28; James 4:17).

All that being said, if we’re called fools because we believe the truth or because we’re actually living out what we believe (like helping those in need when it appears to others that it would be of no benefit to us), we’ll be blessed by God (1 Corinthians 1:18-25; 2:14; Matthew 5:11-12; 1 Peter 2:11-12).

Are you wisely living out your faith by looking to the interests of others (Matthew 7:12).

Leonard Lauriault is a member of the Church of Christ in Logan. Contact him at

[email protected]