I Samuel 26:21
Chuck Smith teaches that true folly is failing to submit one's life to God, and that this can happen even with natural advantages and special opportunities.
Chuck Smith explores the life of Saul, emphasizing how despite his physical advantages and opportunities to lead God's people, he ultimately played the fool by failing to submit fully to God. Saul's military pride, disobedience, and jealousy led him to make foolish decisions, including seeking counsel from a witch. The sermon teaches that true folly lies in resisting God's call and not yielding one's life completely to Him, as even those with great potential can fall into foolishness without divine guidance. Smith warns that pride and disobedience can lead to a life of regret and separation from God.
Text
"PLAYING THE FOOL"
I. A LOOK AT THE MAN.
A. 9:2 - A choice young man and goodly.
1. Tremendous physique.
2. Looks aren't everything.
B. Good family life - 9:5.
C. Humble - 9:21.
II. OPPORTUNITIES THAT CAME TO HIM.
A. Opportunity to reign over God's people - 10:2.
B. Spirit of God will come upon you - 10:6.
C. Surrounded by band of men whose hearts God had touched - 10:26.
III. MANIFESTATIONS OF FOLLY.
A. Military pride - 13:2, conscripted army.
1. Jonathan smote the Philistines with a great slaughter and Saul
blew the trumpet in Israel -13:3.
B. Offering sacrifice at Gilgal - 13:9.
1. Samuel said, "You have done foolishly."
C. His foolish vow - 14:24.
D. Disobedience in failure to totally annihilate Amalakites.
E. Jealousy of David - 18:7-8.
F. Endeavor to kill David.
G. Turning to witch for counsel - 28:7.
IV. WHAT WAS TRUE FOLLY?
A. Failure to totally submit his life to God.
1. Any man who does not totally yield his life to God is playing the fool.
V. WHAT DOES THIS STORY TEACH US?
A. A man can have all kinds of natural advantages and still play the fool.
B. A man may be given special opportunities and still end up playing the fool.
C. Any man is foolish when he tries to hide from the call of God.
1. Lets pride master him.
2. Endeavors a service for God without being called.
3. Makes foolish vows.
4. Disobeys God's Word.
5. Allows jealousy to master him.
6. Turns against his godly friends.
7. Seeks advice from spirit world.
D. A man is a fool when he does not yield his life completely to God.
1. You're a fool if you think you know what's better for your life
than God.
Sermon Outline
- A Look at the Man points: - Physical Appearance - Family Life - Humility
- Opportunities That Came to Him points: - Reign Over God's People - Spirit of God - Surrounded by God-Touched Men
- Manifestations of Folly points: - Military Pride - Offering Sacrifice - Foolish Vow - Disobedience - Jealousy - Turning to Witch for Counsel
- What Was True Folly? points: - Failure to Submit to God
- What Does This Story Teach Us? points: - Natural Advantages Can't Save Us - Special Opportunities Can't Save Us - Hiding from God's Call Makes Us Fools
Key Quotes
“You have done foolishly.” — Chuck Smith
“Any man who does not totally yield his life to God is playing the fool.” — Chuck Smith
“You're a fool if you think you know what's better for your life than God.” — Chuck Smith
Application Points
- We must submit our lives completely to God to avoid playing the fool.
- Pride, jealousy, and disobedience can master us if we try to hide from God's call.
- We must be careful not to make foolish vows and disobey God's Word.