Sin Makes a Man Foolish, All Sin Is Actually Pure Folly

“Anger rests in the bosom of fools.” Eccl. 7:9. “He who hates reproof is stupid.” Prov. 12:1.

Likewise, he who commits unrighteousness is stupid; he who lies is stupid; he who is merciless is stupid; the proud are stupid; a quarrelsome person is stupid; the person who is impatient is stupid; a conceited person is stupid; a lazy person is stupid. A suspicious person is stupid; to be anxious is pure folly. To be discouraged is silly. All this and all other sins only make matters and circumstances worse. All of it is eternal loss.

All this has its irrefutable explanation in the following: God is wise. He is wisdom personified. Therefore all His laws, commandments, and commands must necessarily be full of wisdom. Sin is transgression of the law. The opposite of following His wise laws must necessarily be foolishness or stupidity.

Therefore: all transgressions = all sin = stupidity.

The one who slanders is stupid. The one who neglects to correct his neighbor is stupid. The person who flatters is stupid. The person who bears a grudge is stupid. He who is not in subjection according to the Scriptures is stupid. He who is not separate is stupid. The person who neglects the assembling together with the saints is stupid. The person who proposes to a beautiful woman instead of to a God-fearing and good woman is stupid. The person who criticizes and judges his neighbor instead of himself is stupid. A miserly person is stupid. A greedy person is stupid. The person who draws back is stupid. He who shrinks back from being hospitable is stupid. The person whose thoughts dwell on making a good appearance is stupid, etc., etc.

Alas, how much stupidity there is in this world. Obedience to the Word—that is wisdom.

Elias Aslaksen