Have you ever worked with someone who refused to learn? They’re corrected whenever they make a mistake, but they never seem to do better next time. They just keep on making the same old mistakes over and over again.  

Our problem is that if we’re honest, there is some area of life where we know we’re being foolish, but we refuse to learn. Either we don’t care that we’re doing something wrong, or we’re not willing to do what it takes to make it right.  

The book of Proverbs tells us that when we do this, it’s just like a dog returning to his vomit (Prov. 26:11). As those who desire to walk in God’s wisdom, we should be repulsed by foolishness and refuse to keep going back to the same old habits of sin and folly. Therefore, you must find your folly and forsake it.  

 Proverbs gives at least two reasons to forsake folly: 

Reason #1: Common sense.  

Proverbs 26:11, “As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.”  

If you’ve ever seen a dog eat his vomit, you know that it’s pretty gross. Just as we are disgusted by the dog’s actions, so we should be disgusted by the fool’s behavior as he returns to his folly. It simply should not make sense.  

Proverbs calls us to fear God (Prov. 9:10). Thus, the way that we discern common sense is by looking to God. As we seek to know who He is and how He wants us to live, we then submit to His ways, both specifically to His Word and generally to His design for our lives.  

When we live with biblically informed “common sense,” doing the same foolish things over and over begins to be pretty unappealing. We should not want to continue experiencing the consequences of foolish choices. Instead, we ought to desire to forsake this folly that God made me glorified.  

Reason #2: You have a new nature. 

2 Peter 2:22, “But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.” 

The apostle Peter quotes Proverbs 26:11 in reference to false teachers. These teachers are more than just fools. Even though they had the opportunity to come to Christ, they have completely rejected the truth of the gospel (2 Peter 2:20). They have returned to their vomit because they chose self and sin over Christ and eternal life.  

If you have trusted in Christ alone for salvation, you have been given a new nature (Titus 3:5, 2 Cor. 5:17). In 1 Corinthians 6, Paul gives a list of characteristics for those who will not “inherit the kingdom of God.” At the end, he says, “and such were some of you.” We have been saved to be freed from sin, not to continue in it. Thus, we must forsake sin and foolishness because we have been given a new nature by God’s grace.  

Understanding the need to forsake our folly, we’re left with the question, “how?” Proverbs also gives at least three steps that we can take in order to do so. 

Step #1: Learn from consequences. 

Proverbs 17:10, “A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.” 

The fool refuses to see the error of his ways, even though he continually faces the consequences of his actions. No matter how bad the results, he will keep going back to his foolishness.  

If you wish to grow in Christlikeness, you must be like the wise man. Even just a word of rebuke teaches him to change his ways. How much more when he experiences negative results because of poor choices will he seek to forsake his folly?  

Consequences are like a billboard, pointing you to realize that you’ve made foolish or sinful choices. Take them seriously, and let them teach you where you have gone wrong.  

Step #2: Accept wise counsel. 

Proverbs 10:17, “He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth.” 

When someone instructs you or counsels you, it is often difficult to readily accept that counsel. But if you want to forsake folly, you must be willing to accept the wisdom of your mentors.  

Let’s say a mentor is helping you overcome a sinful habit in your life. When they suggest practical steps for you to take to retrain your heart and mind to fear the Lord, take that counsel seriously. Don’t just agree that it’s a good idea, but seek to apply their counsel as it accords with the Word of God.  

Step #3: Be okay with being wrong. 

Proverbs 12:15, “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.” 

We are so often proud, believing that no matter what counsel we’re given, we have everything figured out (even if we wouldn’t say that out loud). The fool believes that his actions are justifiable, and that if he is experiencing consequences, it is only because he’s the victim.  

The reality is, we all make mistakes. There are times when we all go back like a dog to his vomit. And so we must be ready to admit that even if we were right in our own eyes, in reality we were wrong.  

Maybe even as you read these words, you recognize an area of your life where you can be compared to the dog that returns to his vomit. If so, then it’s time to make some changes in your life. Go to the Lord in prayer, asking Him for His help. Go to His Word to find the better path of wisdom. Go to a godly friend, who will help you and keep you accountable along the way. We must learn to be repulsed by our sin and folly, and to therefore forsake it.  

 Questions for Discussion:  

1. Read Proverbs 26:11. Why does Solomon compare vomit to foolishness? How is making foolish choices similar to a dog eating his vomit? 

2. Read 2 Peter 2:22. How did the false teachers fulfill this proverb? How are you, as a believer, different from the false teachers? How does that impact your daily way of life? 

3. Read proverbs 17:10. Why doesn’t the fool learn from consequences? Why is it important to learn from consequences? 

4. Read Proverbs 12:15. Are you often right in your own eyes, even when wise people counsel you to change your mind? Why is it wise to listen to counsel and accept it when you’re wrong?