In the parable of the wise and foolish virgins (Matt 25), we see such a dire need for wisdom and the devastating effect of lacking "oil". The five unprepared virgins were called "foolish" and were not permitted entrance into the marriage chamber. Thus, it is of utmost importance for us to avoid such a fate, and to see what the Bible defines as a fool.
One of the strangest passages concerning a fool is found in the book of Job. By earthly standards, Job's life has just been totally wrecked: his children died, his health gone, his possessions ruined. His wife, in all of her "godly wisdom", encourages him to just "curse God and die" (2:9)! Job's subsequent response gives us great insight into one definition of "spiritual foolishness":
Job 2:9-10 "Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die. But he said unto her, thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?"
Thus, we can easily determine that one aspect of spiritual foolishness is resisting the dealings of God! How can we rightly justify such a resistance when the Bible clearly says, "Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby" (Heb 12:11). If we can take our eyes off the current trial, and keep them on the effect of such, we will be much better off (also note 1 Pet 5:10). This is why we are admonished to look "unto Jesus" (Heb 12:1-2), not always at our own selves.
In my opinion, one of the most backwards concepts in the body of Christ today is the issue of prayer: God is not our "errand boy"! The purpose of God is not to always answer our cushy prayers, but by our prayers we come to discern the mind of God; this is what's revealed in John 17. There is one prayer God must answer, and that is the prayer of Jesus - "that they may be one, even as We are One." Are we as close to Jesus as that? Are we "one" yet?
Friend, God is not overly concerned about our plans (as we often are); He does not say - Do you want to go through this bereavement; Do you want to suffer this upset? He allows these things for His own purpose. The things we are going through are either making us sweeter, better, nobler men and women; or they are making us more captious and fault-finding, more insistent upon our own way. The things that happen either make us savages, or they make us saints; it depends entirely upon the relationship we are in with God. If we say - "Thy will be done," then we get the consolation of John 17, the consolation of knowing that our Father is working according to His own wisdom. When we understand what God is after we will not get mean and cynical. Jesus has prayed nothing less for us than absolute oneness with Himself as He was one with the Father. Some of us are far from it, and yet God will not leave us alone until we are one with Him, because Jesus has asked for it.
This is why those foolish virgins who do not suffer through the dealings of God will be found lacking oil at the coming of the Lord. We must realize that such trials and circumstances are simply one of God's many tools to perfect us! Fire may be painful, but there's true purpose in it (Isa 1:24-27).
God is avenging Himself of His enemies! He's using fire to ease Himself of the enemy of flesh in you! " For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing..." (Rom 7:18).
Gal 5:17 "For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would."
So how else does the Bible define foolishness? The book of Proverbs alone defines it in many various ways. Observe:
Prov 17:25 - A fool grieves his father
Prov 1:22 - loves simplicity and hates knowledge
Prov 8:1-5 - has no understanding
Prov 17:10 - doesn't heed to reproof
Prov 28:26 - trusts in his own heart
Prov 15:5 - despises his father's instruction
Prov 19:3 - has a perverted way
Prov 1:7 - despises wisdom
Prov 17:16 - has no heart to get wisdom
Prov 14:9 - mocks at sin
Prov 13:19 - is stayed upon evil...
These foolish virgins will possess all of these traits and more. We would do well to take heed to these truths as we are going "on unto perfection" (Heb 6:1), and preparing for that glorious wedding day!
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