Wisdom Vs. Folly

Proverbs 9:1-6; 13-18:

"Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn out its seven pillars. She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has also set her table. She has sent out her maids, and she calls from the highest point of the city. 'Let all who are simple come in here!' She says to those who lack judgment, 'Come, eat my food and drink my wine I have mixed. Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of understanding' . . . . The woman Folly is loud; she is undisciplined and without knowledge. She sits at the door of her house on a seat at the highest point of the city, calling out to those who pass by, who go straight on their way. 'Let all who are simple come in here!' she says to those who lack judgment."

In order that the writer of Proverbs 9 (under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit) might teach us the difference between wisdom and folly, he decides to personify these two dispositions.

The first to be mentioned is wisdom. She has a ministerial mindset to bless others, and she takes great care to prepare her house for those who would enter. She is disciplined in her preparation as she desires to delight those who would join her in her feast of blessing. She is not selfishly seeking an advantage over others but is looking to serve others. She proclaims at the highest point of the city for all to join; there is no restriction on who are invited to celebrate with her. The call for the simple (i.e. those who are empty-minded and thus prone to sin) is to provide opportunity to feast upon the treasures of her instruction. Wisdom knows that the simple will be blessed by their heeding of her savory morsels of truth.

What is necessary from the simpleminded man is to make the conscious decision to leave the dark, dingy streets of foolishness and enter through the threshold of Wisdom's beautiful home; she has the choicest feast prepared for those who would join her.

Folly also calls out for those on the streets of life. Although she selfishly has sought a house of prominence at the highest point in the city, she is undisciplined, unwise, and selfishly predatory. She is not motivated by principle but by opportunity. Rather than blessing others by preparing a feast of wisdom for her guests, she lazily sits at the door of her house, looking for a wayward victim to come her way. She knows no shame, for in her mind the end justifies the means. If others are hurt through her manipulation, so be it . . . as long as she benefits from their misfortune. Her house is set at the highest point of the city for she egocentrically craves to be above all others, and she uses her heightened position to lure others into her abode.

She also attempts to lure those who pass by with sensual things (see Prov. 9:17); she will pull out all of the stops to draw people through her doors. Tragically, there are many who walk by her door, and most will stop to hear her enticing solicitations. For those who consent to her wishes and walk through her threshold, she selfishly will feed on their misery; in the end she will bring disillusionment and death to them (9:18).

There is a great word of instruction for us as we reflect upon this personified story, namely that we all will hear the callings of wisdom and folly as we traverse the streets of life. We must remember that wisdom is the lover of our soul, and we know that Our Lord dwells within her midst. If we respond to her, we will be blessed in every way . . . for wisdom seeks our best; and we know that our best is a life surrendered to the Lordship of Christ.

Folly on the other hand will use us and ultimately destroy us. The blessing of the Lord is not found within her walls, for under her roof lies disobedience to the Sovereign Lord and His commands.

If we know that the fear (reverential respect) of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 1:7), we would do well to first find Him and reverently surrender to Him. He will lead us through the doors of wisdom's delight, and we will never later regret the decision to dine at her table.