The Bible speaks of foolishness or ‘folly’ as a state of living apart from the wisdom and will of God. As people are born ignorant of God’s wisdom and rebellious against His will, everyone has foolishness (Gr. aphrōn, ‘without reason, senseless’) as part of their spiritual DNA (Prov. 22:15). Foolishness can be displayed by acting in ways that rebel against God and bring shame to self and others. Foolishness resides in the heart not in the head (Ps. 14:1; Prov. 12:15; 14:16; 19:3; 26:11; 28:26). Foolishness isn’t lack of education or immaturity but choosing against godly options which people are aware of through creation, conscience, and scripture. This means a person can be mentally intelligent but spiritually foolish. Foolishness leads to sin which ultimately ends in judgment (Rom. 1:18-20; Eph. 5:5-7; Col. 3:5-7). Intelligence without godliness is foolishness!

Envy is part of the human condition regardless of where or when people live. We live in one of the most affluent areas in one of the most prosperous nations in the world at the most flourishing time in human history—yet envy is everywhere. Whether over donkeys or jets, envy starts at dissatisfaction. Dissatisfaction is a disposition of perceived lack that leads to envy (James 4:1-3). Dissatisfaction is the seed that can grow into envy of wanting something else that ultimately finishes in covetousness. Coveting is the state of living where you can’t enjoy the blessing you have because of the blessing someone else has. Coveting lives in unquenchable lust for goods, contentedness lives in unquestioned trust in God. Envy robs the joy from life and kills the desire to trust God’s direction (Prov. 14:30).Dissatisfaction®envy®covetousness. Coveting doesn’t come from a lack of possessions, but a lack of contentedness(Heb. 13:5).

Envy is part of the human condition regardless of where or when people live. We live in one of the most affluent areas in one of the most prosperous nations in the world at the most flourishing time in human history—yet envy is everywhere. Whether over donkeys or jets, envy starts at dissatisfaction. Dissatisfaction is a disposition of perceived lack that leads to envy (James 4:1-3). Dissatisfaction is the seed that can grow into envy of wanting something else that ultimately finishes in covetousness. Coveting is the state of living where you can’t enjoy the blessing you have because of the blessing someone else has. Coveting lives in unquenchable lust for goods, contentedness lives in unquestioned trust in God. Envy robs the joy from life and kills the desire to trust God’s direction (Prov. 14:30).Dissatisfaction®envy®covetousness. Coveting doesn’t come from a lack of possessions, but a lack of contentedness(Heb. 13:5).

When we swear by someone, we appoint that person as witness of the promise and the judge if I break it.

When we swear by someone, we appoint that person as witness of the promise and the judge if I break it.

Because Jesus was called first to the Jewish people, he spent the majority of his time with them. However, he also loved all people, and on one occasion he went north to the Gentile region of Tyre and Sidon (John 3:16). There, he met a woman who had a demonically possessed daughter. Although this Canaanite (‘pagan person of the land’) mother had many religious options like the temple of Eshmun—a local god of healing—she had heard about Jesus and his miracle-working ability. Disappointment with the fake should drive people to the genuine (Is. 44:19, 20; Acts 8:13). Though she isn’t a Jew, she submissively called him ‘Lord’ (Gr. kurios,‘master’) and used the Messianic title ‘Son of David’ signifying Jesus as the king of Israel. A right view of Jesus is the first step to a right life with God (John 14:6). Possibly after years of watching her daughter be physically and emotionally oppressed, she knows she is powerless to help her. She cries out for mercy knowing Jesus has power over the natural and supernatural realms. Humility accesses the willing heart of God (James 4:10; 1 Pet. 5:6)!

Because Jesus was called first to the Jewish people, he spent the majority of his time with them. However, he also loved all people, and on one occasion he went north to the Gentile region of Tyre and Sidon (John 3:16). There, he met a woman who had a demonically possessed daughter. Although this Canaanite (‘pagan person of the land’) mother had many religious options like the temple of Eshmun—a local god of healing—she had heard about Jesus and his miracle-working ability. Disappointment with the fake should drive people to the genuine (Is. 44:19, 20; Acts 8:13). Though she isn’t a Jew, she submissively called him ‘Lord’ (Gr. kurios,‘master’) and used the Messianic title ‘Son of David’ signifying Jesus as the king of Israel. A right view of Jesus is the first step to a right life with God (John 14:6). Possibly after years of watching her daughter be physically and emotionally oppressed, she knows she is powerless to help her. She cries out for mercy knowing Jesus has power over the natural and supernatural realms. Humility accesses the willing heart of God (James 4:10; 1 Pet. 5:6)!

All people are mortal creations whose span of life is only known to God (Ps. 139:16). God designed living to involve using your time to be industrious rather than wasting it being lazy or a sluggard (Heb. ‛âtsêl, ‘to lean idly, be slack’; Prov. 6:6-11). Laziness is the state of underachieving with God-given physical and mental resources. Laziness isn’t the same as ‘rest’. Rest is the reward of effort; laziness is the absence of effort. Gambling, video games, and hobbies (social media, home-brewing, sports, fishing, etc.) are examples of false ‘effort-satisfaction’ events. Feelings produced by entertainment shouldn’t be confused for satisfaction produced by industry (Prov. 21:17). Industriousness seeks to be useful to God, but laziness finds a way to be useless to anyone. Laziness is not passive restfulness, but active selfishness(Prov. 12:11; Matt. 25:26, 27).

All people are mortal creations whose span of life is only known to God (Ps. 139:16). God designed living to involve using your time to be industrious rather than wasting it being lazy or a sluggard (Heb. ‛âtsêl, ‘to lean idly, be slack’; Prov. 6:6-11). Laziness is the state of underachieving with God-given physical and mental resources. Laziness isn’t the same as ‘rest’. Rest is the reward of effort; laziness is the absence of effort. Gambling, video games, and hobbies (social media, home-brewing, sports, fishing, etc.) are examples of false ‘effort-satisfaction’ events. Feelings produced by entertainment shouldn’t be confused for satisfaction produced by industry (Prov. 21:17). Industriousness seeks to be useful to God, but laziness finds a way to be useless to anyone. Laziness is not passive restfulness, but active selfishness(Prov. 12:11; Matt. 25:26, 27).

Irritability is emotional and can have many sources—lack of sleep, hormones, stress, anxiety, worry, chemicals, etc. Shortness of emotional control can produce anger, rage, and violence. Anger can be appropriate but shouldn’t arise from irritation (Eph. 4:26). The result of irritation becomes sinful when it affects behavior or creates needless, negative issues with others. Irritability (Gr.paroxynetai, ‘to make sharp, provoke’) can expose selfishness that at other times might be hidden if something is delayed, denied, or disrupted. There are no ‘bad days’, just bad reactions to unwelcome circumstances.