Proverbs Pt. 39 Choose Wisdom or Choose Foolishness. Each Person Must Decide.

Each person must choose Wisdom over Foolishness. 

Proverbs 9:11-12  For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased. 12) If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it. 

We looked at both the fear of the LORD and the knowledge of the holy. King Solomon extolled the tangible benefits offered by obtaining wisdom, fearing God and finding the knowledge of the holy. One main benefit is a longer life and living a better quality of life than the way of a transgressor which is hard. 

The idea of being wise for yourself reminds us that each individual must give an account to God for their sins. For those who seek wisdom and find it receive a great blessing and have the ability to live a way of life that is joyous, full of hope and purpose even when circumstances are difficult. 

The opposite is a person who hasn't found wisdom but is the scorner. Solomon seems to be stressing to his children that they have heard inspired truth from their father, the king. Therefore, they cannot claim ignorance about these things and they must individually choose wisdom instead of folly. If they choose darkness instead of light and ignorance instead of wisdom, that falls on their shoulders because they were instructed in the right way that honors God.

Finding wisdom brings a longer life.

Exodus 20:12  Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. 

The text above is the fifth of the ten commandments. It really demonstrates what King Solomon is seeking to do in teaching his children. If they can grasp what wisdom is and obtain it, their lives will be morally good. Part of the wisdom he desires his children to embrace is this commandment. Notice, like wisdom's benefit, honoring your parents adds days to your life. 

Ephesians 6:1-3  Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. 2) Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; 3) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. 

This is a tangible promise given by God that is also repeated in Ephesians 6:1-3. Notice in the New Testament text the clear promise of a longer life given to children who honor their parents. Added to a longer life is that "it might be well with thee." This speaks to enjoying a better life in Christ because of choosing to obey the Word of God.  

Wisdom brings the abundant life to us. 

Psalm 16:8-11  I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. 9) Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. 10) For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. 11) Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

This text helps us quantify the benefits conferred upon all who find God's wisdom, who fear Him and gain knowledge of the holy. King David wrote Psalm 16. God called David a "man after mine own heart." (Acts 13:22). David lived a life marked by wisdom, a fear of God and knowledge of the holy. Notice the quality of life that David enjoyed because he sought out these things from God. 

Like David, we can enjoy a heart filled with gladness because of what God does for us and who He reveals Himself to be. It is a life of resting on God's promises that allows our spirit to be settled and immovable in a world that is in a state of constant change, agitation and degradation. 

Like David, we can enjoy a heart filled with rejoicing because we have a relationship with the Father, through His Son, Jesus Christ. David tells us that we can have a full joy in our hearts because we know God. The believer enjoys the pleasure and blessing of the abundant life that Christ spoke of. (John 10:10) Wisdom, the fear of the LORD and knowledge of the holy radically alters our life in a most positive and spiritual manner. 

Wisdom opens the door to rest for the believer. 

Matthew 11:28-30  Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29) Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30) For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. 

Our Lord Jesus spoke about wisdom in the sense of turning to Christ in repentant faith and being born again. It is a life of peace, rest and joy in knowing Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. 

The way of the foolish is filled with problems.

Proverbs 9:13-18  A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing. 14) For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city, 15) To call passengers who go right on their ways: 16) Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, 17)  Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant. 18) But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell. 

The foolish woman represents those who choose to live in darkness instead of seeking wisdom from God. The life of a fool is clamorous. It is a life of constant agitation because of making bad choices and dealing with the consequences of sin. It implies moving from one crisis to another instead of resting in the Lord and having a settled life. 

In this case, the foolish woman is just like the strange woman who seeks to commit adultery. She is always going out to find someone to share in her illicit pleasures. It is a life marked by temporary, shallow relationships devoid of true commitment. There is a true emptiness, constantly searching for something or someone to fill that void. And we all know that having a relationship with Christ is the answer! 

Thoughts to Ponder...

Deuteronomy 30:19-20  I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: 20) That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them. 

Moses did all that he possibly could to properly prepare Israel for entering the promised land. Like King Solomon, Moses laid out the two choices before all the people. One choice was the way of wisdom leading to life, blessing and loving Jehovah. The other choice was the way of a fool leading to death, consequences for sin and being an idolater.  

Joshua 24:15  And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

Joshua also pushed the people to  make a choice whom they would follow: Jehovah or the idols of the nations around them. One choice brings blessings and the other choice brings misery and heartache. 

Matthew 7:13-14  Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14) Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. 

Our Lord and Savior pushes all people to make a choice between two options. One choice is the straight gate and narrow way that leads to eternal life. The other option is the wide gate and broad way that leads to eternal destruction. 

Which path will you choose?

Bob