Focal Passages: Proverbs 8:1-6, 17-21, 32-36; 9:12-18
If wisdom could speak verbally, I’m sure it would have said, “Hey dummy, don’t do that!” many times in my life. Although Solomon knew wisdom had no vocal chords, he personified it with written words to guide his son. We’ve all heard something like, “When God closes one door, He opens another one,” but Satan likes to bring frustration and defeat with a few doors of his own. As Solomon introduced wisdom’s invitation he reminded his son that wisdom would call to him at every common place and intersection of life. While life brings major events and intersections, such as graduation, marriage, childbirth, etc., most of them are seemingly small and very common. Many people don’t make tragic errors at the big intersections, but may be ambushed by the deceptively ordinary instances of life. Whether watching a movie, reading a magazine, connecting through social media or having a private conversation, both wisdom and folly offer alternatives that can change your life. While wisdom shouts for you to run away, folly tells you to watch awhile, chat online without your spouse’s knowledge or commiserate with your opposite sex coworker.
Wisdom calls out to inexperienced [lit. “simple”] (8:5) and foolish people to lead them away from disaster and toward the paths of righteousness. As Paul wrote, “Be angry and do not sin. Don’t let the sun go down on your anger, and don’t give the Devil an opportunity” (Ephesians 4:26-27). If we remain naive to Satan’s schemes, we will fail to see that he uses anger, disappointment, jealousy, pride, vanity and many other avenues to beautify folly and the sin it entails. Solomon noted that wisdom requires intentionality: “Anyone who listens to me is happy, watching at my doors every day, waiting by the posts of my doorway” (8:34).
Instead of waiting for wisdom to tackle us or folly to wave a red flag, we must listen, watch and wait for wisdom to be revealed. If something or someone claims to be wise, don’t just read the label, trace the source (James 4:13-18).