The Fools Among Us...Are You One?

The Fool & His Heart
by py thomas
© July 9, 2014

There are those that I’ve described who insist of having emotional eruptions like an angry volcano.  They have to have their “eruption” before being willing to hear or see anything the opposing party is trying to communicate to them; and even then the lava overflow continues to spew from their lips, unleashing an uncomfortable and toxic burn to all who are on the receiving end of their emotional eruption. 

ELOHIM's (GOD) Word calls one who does this “a fool” that has no appreciation for understanding…no understanding is the result of pure selfishness – this is the evidence displayed when it’s just all about “you” and no one else. 

A fool has no delight in understanding,
But in expressing his own heart. (Proverbs 18:2)

However, on the other side of the spectrum, those who love and appreciate wisdom, have allowed wisdom to conform their hearts to the righteousness of their redeemer Yeshua (Jesus).  When YHWH’s right spirit has been renewed in us, it starts in our heart, and from that point on, that which flows from our mouth will reflect the righteousness of the Messiah in our hearts. 

For its not what goes into a person that defiles them, but what comes out of their hearts.  Selah.  How quick we are to say, “God knows my heart.”   For me personally, that’s a frightening thing.  Had it not been for Yeshua’s death and resurrection for my sins, I’m sure that I would have been killed and sent to hell many years ago because of what resides; and resided in my heart.  We have all fallen short of the glory of ELOHIM.

Beware!

Are you brave enough to face the truth about what traditions you have allowed to  creep in and be a part of your worship and fellowship of Adonai?  Do you know what YHWH’s requirements are for our worship of Him?  Have you read His instructions/guidelines for righteous living yourself (yet)?  Or perhaps you’re waiting for others to teach you, apart from what Yeshua said the role of the  Holy Spirit is to be to each of His followers?

The traditions of men will always oppose YHWH’s will for our lives.  In essence when one chooses traditions of men vs. YHWH’s Word, they are literally living lives that witness to their belief that mortal men know what’s best for us apart from YHWH’s Word.  It says they know more and what’s best more so than Yeshua (Jesus).  It does not matter how much they say they love YHWH and Yeshua when their actions contradict YHWH’s requirements of those in covenant relationship with Him.

Are you more focused on what are the right things to do, or living right?  Is your heart near or close to YHWH?  Unless the heart of the person has been changed through the work of redemption through the Messiah Yeshua, the Word of Elohim, the teaching and help of the Holy Spirit, we see their sin nature alive and well…a sinful heart separated us from YHWH in the beginning. 

The million dollar question for each of us is, “Are we just giving lip service in our worship of YHWH, or are we worshipping Him with our hearts?”  This is what Yeshua says…

15 Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Yeshua, saying, ² “Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.”

³ He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of Elohim because of your tradition? ⁴ For Elohim commanded, saying, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ ⁵ But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to Elohim”— ⁶ then he need not honor his father or mother.’ Thus you have made the commandment of Elohim of no effect by your tradition. ⁷ Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:

⁸ ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth,
And honor Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me. 
⁹ And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ”

¹⁰ When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear and understand: ¹¹ Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”

¹² Then His disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?”

¹³ But He answered and said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. ¹⁴ Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.”

¹⁵ Then Peter answered and said to Him, “Explain this parable to us.”

¹⁶ So Yeshua said, “Are you also still without understanding? ¹⁷ Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? ¹⁸ But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. ¹⁹ For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. ²⁰ These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.” (Matthew 15:1-20)