Foolishness vs. Wisdom

Foolishness vs. Wisdom

(Proverbs 1:20-33)

Yearly Theme:  “Peace is…”

Series Title:  “The Wisdom of Peace”

June 6^th, 2021 (Graduation Sunday)

Something to think about:

What is wisdom?

חָכְמוֹת (ḥākmôt), n. wisdom. Greek equiv. fr. LXX: σοφία (4).

Noun Usage

1. wisdom (ability)† — ability to apply knowledge or experience or understanding or common sense and insight.

Today, we come to the great book of wisdom in the Old Testament known as the book of Proverbs.  This book has traditionally been known to have been written in great part by King Solomon, and it carries within it nuggets of wisdom to be applied in everyday circumstances and situations.  Though not exhaustive, Proverbs opens the doors of understanding God’s divine purposes within humanity by way of giving practical insight into healthy relationships and daily living.

The passage we will be exploring today, illustrates “Wisdom” as a woman who calls into the streets to get the attention of anyone who will listen to her counsel.  Her call hearkens those who would leave a life of simple-mindedness for a life of wisdom and peace.  Let’s take a look…

Turn in your Bibles to:  Proverbs 1:20-33

So, what’s the main takeaway this morning, and what’s the main point that we should understand from this passage?

Key Point:  “Those who learn the way of wisdom, live in peace.”

So, how does one learn the way of wisdom, and thus live in peace?  Let’s consider the following…

• The pursuit of  is ultimately the pursuit of  .

Proverbs 1:20-33 (NLT), ²⁰ Wisdom shouts in the streets. She cries out in the public square. ²¹ She calls to the crowds along the main street, to those gathered in front of the city gate: ²² “How long, you simpletons, will you insist on being simpleminded? How long will you mockers relish your mocking? How long will you fools hate knowledge? ²³ Come and listen to my counsel. I’ll share my heart with you and make you wise.

• The simpleminded remain simpleminded because they  to pursue  .

Proverbs 1:24-27 (NLT), ²⁴ “I called you so often, but you wouldn’t come. I reached out to you, but you paid no attention. ²⁵ You ignored my advice and rejected the correction I offered. ²⁶ So I will laugh when you are in trouble! I will mock you when disaster overtakes you— ²⁷ when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster engulfs you like a cyclone, and anguish and distress overwhelm you.

• There are only two ways: 1) ignorance which leads to  , and 2) wisdom which leads to  .

Proverbs 1:28-33 (NLT), ²⁸ “When they cry for help, I will not answer. Though they anxiously search for me, they will not find me. ²⁹ For they hated knowledge and chose not to fear the Lord. ³⁰ They rejected my advice and paid no attention when I corrected them. ³¹ Therefore, they must eat the bitter fruit of living their own way, choking on their own schemes. ³² For simpletons turn away from me—to death. Fools are destroyed by their own complacency. ³³ But all who listen to me will live in peace, untroubled by fear of harm.”

Something to take home:

So, who is wise?

Philip James (Jim) Elliot, American Christian missionary and one of five people killed during Operation Auca in an attempt to evangelize the Huaorani people of Ecuador said, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”

Wisdom is not gained in the great pursuit of knowledge apart from GOD, but rather in the great pursuit of GOD where all truth and knowledge lie. 

If one should gain wisdom, he must first have faith in GOD in whom all knowledge abounds.  The writer of Proverbs proclaims that the “Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline” (Proverbs 1:7).

This, being graduation Sunday at North Main, let me offer one final word of Biblical counsel to those of you launching this year.  These words I leave you with are from the Apostle Paul who wrote:

Colossians 2:6-15 (NLT), ⁶  And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. ⁷  Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

⁸  Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ. ⁹  For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. ¹⁰  So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

¹¹  When you came to Christ, you were “circumcised,” but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision—the cutting away of your sinful nature. ¹²  For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.

¹³  You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. ¹⁴  He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. ¹⁵  In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.

And remember…

Key Point:  “Those who learn the way of wisdom, live in peace.”