April Fools Day - The Chemistry of Foolishness

Well today is April Fools Day, the day that many of us take license to play a trick on our co-workers, friends or family. The trick can be just a simple practical joke (isn't that an oxymoron?) or an elaborate scheme akin to being Punk'd. In any event the trick usually has endearing qualities only for the foolish trickster.

Although it is not clearly known how the day was established, the earliest recorded association between April 1 and foolishness can be found in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales published in 1392. In the "Nun's Priest's Tale", the stage is set on "Syn March bigan thritty dayes and two" or 32 days after April, which is May 2. That date is the anniversary of King Richard II of England's engagement to Anne of Bohemia, but readers apparently misunderstood this line to mean "March 32", or April 1. In Chaucer's tale, the vain cock Chauntecleer is tricked by a fox.

God's Word has numerous lessons for the foolish. Lets take a look at a few:

A fool is someone who thinks he knows it all and does not need the help of others:

• Proverbs 12:15 (NIV) - The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice.
  
• Proverbs 15:14 (NIV) - The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.
  
• Proverbs 28:26 (NIV) - He who trusts in himself is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom is kept safe.
  
• Ecclesiastes 10:12 (NIV) - Words from a wise man's mouth are gracious, but a fool is consumed by his own lips.
  

A fool is someone who does not learn from his mistakes but repeats them over and over:

• Proverbs 26:11 (NIV) - As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.
  

A fool is someone who sees no benefit in responsibility but blames others for his problems:

• Job 5:2 (NIV) - Resentment kills a fool, and envy slays the simple.
  
• Proverbs 1:32 (NIV) - For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them.
  
• Ecclesiastes 4:5 (NIV) - The fool folds his hands and ruins himself.
  

A fool, by his actions, makes life difficult for those around him:

• Proverbs 13:20 (NIV) - He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.
  
• Proverbs 17:21 (NIV) - To have a fool for a son brings grief; there is no joy for the father of a fool.
  

And a fool just might be a Business Executive or a Politician!

• Ecclesiastes 7:7 (NIV) - Extortion turns a wise man into a fool, and a bribe corrupts the heart.
  
• Ecclesiastes 10:6 (NIV) - Fools are put in many high positions, while the rich occupy the low ones.
  

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The Saying:
"A Fool and His Money Are Soon Parted"
is not found in the Bible

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Finally, there is a saying that we all know and many attribute to the bible but it is not found there. "A fool and his money are soon parted" is not in the bible, however, there are two Proverbs that hint at the same meaning. The first is the saying in reverse - that a fool would not know what to do with his money if he had any, and the second is that a fool does not save for the future:

• Proverbs 5:17 (NIV) - Of what use is money in the hand of a fool, since he has no desire to get wisdom?
  
• Proverbs 21:20 (NIV) - In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has.
  

"A fool and his money are soon parted" is a proverb interpreted from the poem "Five Hundred Points of Good Husbandry" by Thomas Tusser, published in 1557. Thomas Tusser was an English poet and farmer, best known for this instructional poem. It contains the lines:

"A foole and his monie be soone at debate,
which after with sorrow repents him too late."

Ephesians 5:17 (NIV) - "Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is" [for your life].