Proverbs has much to say about fools, and this chapter is especially full of "fool-related" advice. The world is full of fools, and we will never eradicate them, so we need to learn how to best deal with them. We need to be circumspect in our response-- looking around, sizing it all up--so that we don't become foolish too.
"Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself.
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes." -Proverbs 26:5-6
This pair of verses does not contradict, but they teach that there are multiple legitimate responses to a fool based on the circumstances. Sometimes you should answer a fool, but other times, you shouldn't. Your job is to figure out which response best suits that occasion, and how to go about "answering" him when you do.
Verse 5 tells us we should not answer him "according to his folly." In other words, our answer should not be in the same spirit as his foolishness. It should not be rude, base, emotionally unhinged, or overly complicated. If it is, we become foolish too.
The overarching principle is that when we do answer a fool, it should be for his own edification or that of others, "lest he be wise in his own eyes." We have to be careful that our response is simple, thought out, and fitting.
I'm no expert in dealing with fools, and I still make mistakes when dealing with them. But, one thing I've learned over 50 years is that when you must deal with a fool, a safe initial response is to not jump into anything. Pull back, wait, and pray. God will show you what to do and not do in time. Most of the time, there is no inherent "rush," and the extra time and space will grant you perspective. Fools often function by creating an artificial sense of emotional rush that serves them poorly in the end. Don't let them pull you into their mess and "crisis," but don't completely ignore them either. Pull back, weigh and measure, then respond.
xoxo
Mom
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