Wisdom, Folly, Fear

This proverb talks about Wisdom and Folly.

Wisdom is portrayed as a woman that has a lot of wealth and riches. She has a big table set up with lots of food and wine and she has maids.

Folly is portrayed as a woman who is loud, undisciplined, and without knowledge. She tells people that "stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious"

In this passage we are told that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. It's not talking about a kind of fear where we are scared to come before God. Rather, it is talking about a fear of the Lord that comes with the recognition of God's total sovereignty over all things and our total depravity and weakness. It is a fear the is driven by respect and a fear that drives our actions. It is a fear that brings us to our knees. It is the fear that caused Job to suddenly realize amidst all his problems that God is the God of this universe and to come to ask himself who was he to be questioning God.

It's weird that the action of fearing the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. This small action of humility is what brings wisdom. With wisdom comes great riches. As this passage states, we are called in to dine with Wisdom. With folly comes some deceivingly good things, but in fact, it is not good at all. No huge dining table. Living in constant fear, not of the Lord, but actual fear of being discovered for who we are--a fake.

So what will you do today? Will you pursue wisdom with all you are from the bottom of your heart? Or will you continue to hide and take pleasures in the fake treasures of secrecy that blind you from the real treasures found in the fear of the Lord?

Both Wisdom and Folly call out, "Let all who are simple come in here." Who will you listen to?

Created over 2 years ago