Are we fools?

Jeremiah 4:22: "My people are fools; they do not know me. They are senseless children; they have no understanding."

How do we know when we are fools? Proverbs 1:7 says that the "fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline." What does it mean to fear the Lord? I think that it means to have a reverence for him that results in our joyful submission to His will and commands. Fools hate knowledge and correction. They can also be complacent (Proverbs 1:32--"For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them."). A fool trusts only in himself (Proverbs 28:26--"He who trusts in himself is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom is kept safe.) and does not consult God (Jeremiah 2:8--"The priests did not ask, 'Where is the Lord?' Those who deal with the law did not know me; the leaders rebelled against me. The prophets prophesied by Baal, following worthless idols.").

How many times do we consult a book, or the Internet or a friend when we are in trouble or need to make an important decision? While all of these things can be helpful, the first place we should go is to the Lord. It is my goal to model this to my children. Rather than panic when things get tough, they need to see me on my knees crying out to God for His deliverance. It brings joy to my heart to hear even my little "Miney" praying to God when things are tough. I, as a mother, must set the example.