The Bible talks about three types of people; the wise, the fool, and the evil. In today’s post, I will share a few tips on how to identify and deal with each.  Enjoy.

Proverbs 1:2-5 (CEV) – Proverbs will teach you wisdom and self-control and how to understand sayings with deep meanings. You will learn what is right and honest and fair. From these, an ordinary person can learn to be smart, and young people can gain knowledge and good sense. If you are already wise, you will become even wiser. And if you are smart, you will learn to understand.

Proverbs 12:1 (NLT) – To learn, you must love discipline; it is stupid to hate correction.

Proverbs 12:15-16 (NLT) – Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others. A fool is quick-tempered, but a wise person stays calm when insulted.

Psalm 10:4 (NLT) – The wicked are too proud to seek God. They seem to think that God is dead.

Psalm 37:14 (CEV) – The wicked kill with swords and shoot arrows to murder the poor and the needy and all who do right.

Psalm 37:32 (CEV) – The wicked try to trap and kill good people,

Proverbs 17:19 (CEV) – The wicked and the proud love trouble… 

How To Identify the Wise, Foolish, or Evil Person

The Wise

• Not necessarily the smartest or brightest
• Truth or Reality Listeners
• Adjust themselves to the truth they hear, adjust to the reality of life around them.
• Open to feedback, in fact, they love it!
• They are focused on the future
• Care about their effect on others, self-aware, and want to add value to others

The Fool

• Might be the smartest person in the room and extremely gifted
• Fight the truth they hear, try to adjust the truth to their fake reality
• Deny or minimize problems that they are responsible for
• Shifts blame to others
• Lack of owning their problems
• Angry at feedback
• Care only about themselves
• Not a future thinker, they live in the now
• They are not trying to intentionally hurt someone

The Evil Person

• Find enjoyment in hurting others
• They might sue others for the feedback they get
• Take pleasure when others fail
• Seek revenge, “I’m going to bring you down!”

How do you know you are with a wise person?

• They are aware of their own weaknesses.
• Ask them if they can take feedback and how they like to receive it.

Dealing with the Wise, Fool, and Evil Person

The Wise

• Wise people listen so you must continue to have open conversations. Wise people will use the resources you give them, so continue to resource them.

The Fool

• Foolish people don’t listen to feedback, so you must give consequences for poor performance.
• Document every encounter you have with the fool.

The Evil

• You must realize you cannot help the evil person. You are at risk every time you are with the evil person.
• Don’t communicate with them except through an attorney

We all can have an aspect of each (Wise, Fool or Evil) in our own life.  However, we need to primarily be in the Wise Person camp.  What’s more, we need to build a team of wise people around us.

What Do You Think?

Have you had encounters with Wise, Foolish or Evil people?  How did it go?  Send me an email at [email protected] I would love to hear your thoughts in 100 words or less.  Also, if you liked this post please remember to like, share, and comment on it. Thanks!