BETTER A FOOL THAN A FELON

 

BETTER A FOOL THAN A FELON

When given only two of these options…

Fool or Felon? Be a fool not a felon.

You will lose many good things but you won’t reap the terrible consequences of bad things.

A fool lacks wisdom. A felon lives wickedness.

So I say: when given only these two options, it is better to reduce your light (to not try to defend or promote yourself and be regarded as a fool, a sinner or a nobody) than to increase your inner darkness (to become more self-seeking, proud, greedy, fearful, manipulative and even ruthless just to prove your point or have your way).

This principle has many nuances; as seen below.

But to have a fundamental understanding of this in its core essence, it is pertinent to meditate on these words of Holy Scriptures, in Psalm 84v10:

“Better is ONE DAY in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a DOORKEEPER in the house of my God THAN dwell in the tents of the wicked.”

So you see? Better to have limited time and enjoyment in God’s place or purpose than unlimited time and enjoyment with devils.

Selah!

Better to live a brief life in Christ or to have a short walk with God than to live a long useless life in self-pleasing and eternally damned vanity.

Now, while we should “let our light so shine before men” in the gracious words of our Lord Jesus, we should also not go about in arrogant exuberance or ignorant and immature zeal blinding people with our light. 

We should naturally SHINE wherever we are. 

We should not artificially SHOW that we are.

It’s shine not show. Get it?

A “shine witness” not “show business”.

Note the critical difference.

So I don’t disagree with Nelson Mandela who is credited to have said: There is no passion to be found playing small - in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.

Yet…

Better a little light than gross darkness.

In the words of a saying attributed to Eleanor Roosevelt, it is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.

Other Scriptural verses capture this same principle of godly truth as shown below:

“Better to have little, with fear for the LORD, than to have great treasure and inner turmoil.” (Proverbs 15:16)

“Better a dry crust eaten in peace than a house filled with feasting—and conflict.” (Proverbs 17:1)

“Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice.” // “Better to have little, with godliness, than to be rich and dishonest.”(Proverbs 16:18 NIV, NLT)

A saying attributed to Abraham Lincoln states: Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt. 

So again I say:

It is better to give room for others or defer to others than to monopolize conversations.

It is even better to limit goodness than to unleash or publish badness or madness. 

It is better to leave or walk away from evil, toxic, unprofitable or unwholesome associations than to metamorphose into a monster just to be able to stay and successfully thrive in such soul-wrecking environments or atmospheres of wickedness.

It is better to be a fool than to be a felon.

It is better to be mute even when you are right than to be very loud when you are wrong.

It is better to teach absolutely nothing than to teach great falsehoods to entire generations.

It is better to keep quiet than to speak evil.

It is better to not judge than to judge wrongly.

It is better to exonerate the guilty than to incriminate the innocent.

It is better to be good (in personality and in what you do) but unknown than to be well-known but not so good (as a person or in what you offer).

In the words of a Chinese proverb, it is better to be a warrior in a garden than a gardener in a war.

That can be interpreted to mean: it is much better to learn to prepare yourself physically and mentally when you're in a currently calm and easygoing situation or environment.

I hope you now understand the different nuances of this timeless truth.

Let me conclude this post by saying, it is better to maintain the humble attitude of a lifelong learner than to presumptuously assume in pride and prejudice the position of master or teacher over others. 

“Let there not be so many teachers.”

Better a few teachers of God’s truth than many teachers of false doctrines. 

Having said this, I will leave us with three more Scriptural citations for our learning and edification. God bless you.

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“But do not be called Rabbi (Teacher); for One is your Teacher, and you are all [equally] brothers. Do not call anyone on earth [who guides you spiritually] your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. Do not let yourselves be called leaders or teachers; for One is your Leader (Teacher), the Christ. But the greatest among you will be your servant. Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be raised to honor.”

Ref: Matthew 23:8-12 (AMP)

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Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly. (NLT)

My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. (KJV)

Ref: James 3:1

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We are fools on account of Christ, but you are prudent in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are without honor! (NASB)

We are [regarded as] fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are highly esteemed, but we are dishonored. (AMP)

Ref: 1 Corinthians 4:10

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#SelahSayings

#KingdomFirst

#LightOfLife 

Post Script: 

This little light of mine… Selah! 

To God be the glory.

Time/Date: 1:00am, 1st August 2022