Wise versus Fools
In the first week of our Quarterly lesson we discovered that Wisdom cries out. We read from
Proverbs 1.
Prov 1:20 Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets:
Prov 1:21 She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying,
Prov 1:22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?
Prov 1:23 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.
Prov 1:24 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;
Notice that wisdom in this passage is personified. Who could wisdom be? Can wisdom be a person? Christ is the wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1: 30). It is Christ who cries out, "come unto me all ye who are burdened and heavy laden, … I will give you rest" (Matthew 11: 28 - 30). Who are the wise? Let us read, Prov. 1: 5,
Proverbs 1: 5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:
What is then wisdom in human terms? A disposition or attitude of willingness to hear, understand and hearken to the Word of God. Wisdom starts not when we acquire knowledge and experience, it starts when we choose hear and understand the source of wisdom. Wisdom, then, is a practice, a behavior or habit. Now, to hear the Word of God is also the road to faith. So, true wisdom is only found in those who live by faith. The just live by faith, therefore the just are wise. The wise see things how God sees them. The unwise do not.
Now notice the similarity between proverbs 1 : 5 and 4: 1,
Proverbs 4:1 Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.
Both call for hearing and understanding. While Proverbs 4: 1 is a call to hear for instruction and know understanding, Proverbs 1: 5 says that it is those who are wise that do this. And, in fact, the wise will continue to do that.
What our lesson points out is that wisdom will find expression in our daily affairs. The way we treat others and carry ourselves in our daily events will be a reflection of the kind of wisdom we practice and acquire. A true wise person, a just man, will treat others with as Christ treated others. "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." The Bible is full of examples of wise and unwise being contrasted. Many parables are about this. The good Samaritan was wise. The priest and the levites were not wise. The young publican crying for mercy in the temple was wise. The Pharisee was not wise. The son that repented and did his father's bidding was wise. The prodigal son in going back to his father was wise. The elder brother was unwise, although he stayed.
What happens to the wise? Let us read from Matthew 25,
Matt 25:21 …enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
Matt 25:34 Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
What happens to the unwise or foolish? What happens to those who refuse to hear and hearken unto the Call of Wisdom? Let us read Proverbs 10: 21,
Proverbs 10:21 …fools die for want of wisdom.
In rejecting Wisdom, fools reject Christ, Who is Life and the source of Life. The sad part is that fools are not those who've never heard, fools are those who continually refuse to hear Jesus. In Matthew 7 we find out that they are active church members. They thought that they were in good standing. But, Christ said, "I never knew you, depart from me you evil doers." They thought in there foolishness that they were wise. But, the wise man says,
Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
In the end, the fools do not get what they see. But, the wise get what they do not see, for faith is the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11: 1).
Raul Diaz
www.wolfsoath.com
www.wolfsoath.com
