A House of Folly
Gary Waddell • Victory Ministries Middle Tennessee • iamnotashamed.com • 02/15/2020
Let not my lord, I pray thee, regard this man of Belial, even Nabal: for as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him: but I thine handmaid saw not the young men of my lord, whom thou didst send.
(1 Sam 25:25)
A few Biblical definitions of ‘folly’ are foolishness; a lack of good sense or foresight; even evil or wickedness; Presently, the word “follies” is used as an elaborate theatrical revue consisting of music, dance and skills. We see this in Hollywood and in our supposed “entertainment” venues – ‘how apropos’. The word “Folly” is used 37 times in the KJV Bible and it is always tied to foolishness or wickedness. It is never used in a ‘good way.’ Many times an angry man’s house or an angry “woman’s house” is full of “folly”. As followers of Christ we should keep ourselves from those who live around “drama”, or “folly”. Pro 26:4
There was a wealthy man in Paran whose name was Nabal who had a ‘goodly wife’ named Abigail. Abigail was a picture of beauty, inside and out. The name “Nabal” actually means “fool.” “Nabal ran a house of folly”. King David sent some of his men on a ‘peace mission’ so to speak, in hopes to get friendship and support from Nabal - perhaps financial support, especially for food for his men and people. Nabal physically violated David’s messengers and they returned to David in shame after being treated badly. David had a good size army and was about to do something rash by destroying Nabal and all that belonged to Nabal – and that included all of his household. Nabal committed folly against David and now David is about to commit folly against Nabal and all that belonged to Nabal. ‘Abigail intervened’ as in the book of 1 Samuel 25. It’s worthwhile reading this. There are so many examples of individuals saving the nation of Israel and families, from destruction – all guided by God. Abigail was one of these examples. Obviously, Jesus Christ is the greatest example of all, who saved all from destruction, if people are willing and will receive Him (John 1:12).
Many Christian homes are filled with folly because of one or more of its family members are not acting like a ‘saved’ person (or possibly, one might not be a born again man or woman). I know men whose homes have become a “house of folly” because of a “foolish woman” and that has created stress and division among their families (2 Tim 3:6). This also applies to Christian women whose homes have become ‘houses of folly’ because the husband, the head of the house, is acting in foolish ways (Pro 14:17-18). (Even churches can b filled with folly)
What becomes a bigger problem regarding a house of folly, is when both a man and a woman act foolishly. That becomes a house built on sand as Jesus spoke about. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: (Matt 7:26-27). The house will fall as we see in Matt 7:27. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
No Christian household can stand without Christ being the Head of the house.
God MUST be in the center and the Head of the house.
David's reply to Abigail's plea: And David said to Abigail, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me: And blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand. (1Sam 25:32-33) Just as David was thankful for this noble woman, Abigail, intervening in his life, we as Christians (followers of Christ) need to be thankful for God to help us during times of troubles. He is closer than He seems if we seek Him. The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and He knoweth them that trust in Him (Nah 1:7). We have to “trust Him with all our hearts” (Pro 3:5) in good times and in troubled times. God sees and knows what is happening in our homes. He knows our hearts. He will turn a “house of folly” into a “house of worship & praise” if we stay close to God and seek Him daily.
Examine your life. Has your house become a “house of folly?” If you feel that you are estranged from God or that possibly you don’t know Him at all, try calling upon Him now, where you sit. Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
(Isa 55:6).
God does not want any of us to live in a "house of folly".
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved
(Rom 10:13).
Thanks for Taking 5 • Gary Waddell • Victory Ministries Middle Tennessee
iamnotashamed.com • God bless and bless GOD
