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Wisdom Delivers from Evil People

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Wisdom delivers by enabling us to make different choices.

Delivering you from the way of evil,
From men of perverted speech,
Who forsake the paths of uprightness
To walk in the ways of darkness,
Who rejoice in doing evil
And delight in the perverseness of evil,
Men whose paths are crooked,
And who are devious in their ways (Prov 2:12-15).

"Deception Pass" by gemteck1 (2008), shared under a Creative Commons Attribution License
“Deception Pass” by gemteck1 (2008), Creative Commons Attribution

Deliverance FROM evil people. A discerning, godly person will choose not to join evildoers in their evildoing. This lifestyle means rejecting hurtful speech (Prov 2:12), deceitful cover-ups (Prov 2:13), godless delights (Prov 2:14), and devious behavior (Prov 2:15). The wise person knows that the most dangerous of all potential influencers are those who claim to follow God, but who by their actions have forsaken his way (Prov 2:13).

I’ll give an example. We once hired a contractor to upgrade one of the mechanical systems in our house. About a week after the work was completed, we discovered that we should have gotten a permit from the local code office for this work. So I called the contractor to ask if he had gotten one and had just forgotten to communicate with us about it. Now he claimed to believe in God, but his response was something like: “Is the code office after you? Just tell them you had only a little bit of work done, and they’ll leave you alone.”

This course of action was unacceptable to me; I knew that a deceitful cover-up would dishonor God and come back to haunt me someday. I should have researched the local ordinances more carefully, and I had to deal with the consequences. So I contacted the code office and told them of my situation, offering to do whatever I needed to do to make it right. The assistant at the office told me to fill out an application and include a note saying that I wasn’t aware of the permit requirement before the work completion date. Once I did, the permit was issued, and I don’t think they even charged a penalty.

The point is: I had to make a different choice. Part of that choice involved not being influenced by an outwardly godly but inwardly deceptive approach to the situation. Those who have heard and received God’s wisdom are equipped to label “the way of evil” correctly so they can avoid it and its consequences.

This post was first published in 2013 and is part of a series walking through Proverbs 1-9.

Wisdom Delivers

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"Imperial Bodyguard" by Jay Adan (2010), shared under a Creative Commons Attribution License
“Imperial Bodyguard” by Jay Adan (2010), shared under a Creative Commons Attribution License

When we become wise, we receive heavy-duty protection and deliverance, but it’s important to realize how this protection works.

Discretion will watch over you,
Understanding will guard you (Prov 2:11)

It is not as though we may continue in our foolish ways and then hope for a sudden miraculous rescue from their consequences: “Lord, I cheated on my taxes and now the IRS is after me. Deliver me from their persecution!” Wisdom’s threat in Prov 1:28 should have rid us of any such misconception.

In Prov 2:11 it’s clear that the promised deliverance is more mundane than it is miraculous. It goes like this. When we listen to wisdom, God gives us discretion. He changes our hearts so that we desire what he desires. Then, when we act according to God’s desires – employing our God-given discretion to the daily decisions we face – we make different choices that result in different consequences. Instead of racing headfirst toward suffering and pain, we act in a more life-giving way. We will choose not to do evil, harmful things and to do good, stable things.

Over the next two Proverbs posts, we’ll see what such discretion delivers us from. After that, we’ll see what such discretion delivers us for. If you can’t wait, just read the rest of Prov 2:11-22 to see for yourself.

This post was first published in 2012 and is part of a series walking through Proverbs 1-9.

The Second Result of Listening to Wisdom

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If we passively receive and actively seek wisdom, then two things will happen: We’ll start being wise, and we’ll keep becoming wiser. Last week, we examined the first result. This week, we’ll address the second one.

Then you will understand righteousness and justice
And equity, every good path;
For wisdom will come into your heart,
And knowledge will be pleasant to your soul (Prov 2:9-10).

You’ll keep becoming wiser. Proverbs 2:9 states that “you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path.” Does that list – righteousness, justice, and equity – ring any bells? You may recall the same phrase from Prov 1:3 where Solomon listed his third purpose for the book of Proverbs: that we would not just know the right thing to do, but also do it.

Here in chapter 2, he promises that, if we listen to wisdom, we will understand every good path. In other words, we won’t only become wise; we’ll keep on living wisely. We begin the journey of wisdom (Prov 2:5) and continue walking along it every moment of every day in every little decision we make (Prov 2:9).

Why is this the case? Because “wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul” (Prov 2:10). You’ve survived a “hostile takeover.” Your heart is now filled with and mastered by wisdom, rather than by your own simplicity that leads to folly. Your desires have changed, becoming more like God’s own desires. You now find knowledge to be pleasant and not something to be despised.  (See Prov 1:7.) You are now a different person, free to make different choices.

"Marathon Medalists" by Mostly Dans (2012), shared under a Creative Commons Attribution License
“Marathon Medalists” by Mostly Dans (2012), shared under a Creative Commons Attribution License

The type of listening that produces such constant change is not something that can be completed after a few tries.

It’s a persevering discipline. As we live a life of wisdom, our need for listening grows more, not less. Remember how Solomon stopped listening and became a fool? Don’t follow his example! Keep receiving and keep seeking. Then you won’t be like the marathon runner who was disqualified because he hopped on a bus for part of the race. Be a finisher, not just a starter. The end of your life is far more important than its beginning (Ecc 7:8).

Application

When we listen to wisdom, we’ll keep becoming wiser. What does it look like for us to walk this path? Here are some ideas:

  • Ask God for wisdom every day. No, scratch that; make it every hour.
  • In every situation, ask yourself, “What can I learn here?”
  • Learn how to study the Bible. (Here’s some help.  And more help.)  Meet regularly with others to discuss it.
  • Ask other people how they think you could grow.
  • Read a chapter of Proverbs every day. That way, you’ll cover the whole book each month. I did this for years and developed a notebook of topics. I picked one topic each month, and every day I’d write down which verses addressed that topic. This notebook became a useful resource that I still use.

If wisdom has entered your heart, and the fear of the Lord characterizes you, then you will love instruction. In particular, you will love God’s instruction, which means you’ll draw steadily closer to him. Don’t let your life slip by without careful attention.

Image-Jonathan_Edwards

By the time he turned 21, American theologian Jonathan Edwards had written 70 personal commitments (he called them “resolutions”) for his walk with Christ. They included things like speaking words that build up, managing his time well, and being a trustworthy person. Most noteworthy is his commitment to consciously trust in Jesus, especially when he felt on top of the world. Item #53 states:

“Resolved, to improve every opportunity, when I am in the best and happiest frame of mind, to cast and venture my soul on the Lord Jesus Christ, to trust and confide in him, and consecrate myself wholly to him; that from this I may have assurance of my safety, knowing that I confide in my Redeemer.”

At the top, right before the first item on the list, he wrote this statement: “Remember to read over these Resolutions once a week.” Here was a man who understood his natural tendency to drift from the path of wisdom and who set himself to give careful attention that he might not do so.

To summarize where we are in the argument of Prov 2:1-10: If you persevere at listening carefully to wisdom, you will grow to love wisdom. Your proud, selfish heart will melt, liberating you to make different choices every day. You’ll be heading in the right direction, growing closer to Jesus and becoming more like him.

This post was first published in 2012 and is part of a series walking through Proverbs 1-9.

The First Result of Listening to Wisdom

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“Education” by edenpictures (2009), shared under Creative Commons Attribution License

If we passively receive and actively seek wisdom, then two things will happen: We’ll start being wise, and we’ll keep becoming wiser. Solomon explains these two results and gives the rationale for each. This week, we’ll cover just the first one.

“Then you will understand the fear of the LORD
And find the knowledge of God.
For the LORD gives wisdom;
From his mouth come knowledge and understanding;
He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
He is a shield to those who walk in integrity,
Guarding the paths of justice
And watching over the way of his saints.” (Prov 2:5-8)

You’ll start being wise. Verse 5 states that “you will understand the fear of the Lord.” This concept ought to be familiar from Prov 1:7: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.” Remember that the fear of the Lord is the very first step on the path of wisdom. Solomon now promises that listening to wisdom will result in the fear of the Lord. Therefore, if we listen to wisdom, we will begin the journey of wisdom.

Though this point may seem obvious, it nevertheless is crucial. Wisdom is not something that just happens as we live life. It doesn’t come automatically with status, education, experience, age, or leadership position. We must receive it and seek it in order to gain it. We must admit we don’t have it before we can possess it. We confess we can’t see it so we might somehow perceive it. When it is weak, it is strongest. It rises from lowliness.

Why is this the case? Because “the Lord gives wisdom” (Prov 2:6). It comes from his mouth and not our own (Prov 2:6). It dwells in his storehouse, and he loves to dole it out liberally (Prov 2:7). He is our shield; we can’t protect ourselves (Prov 2:7). He wants us to trust him for all things, including wisdom. Thus, to become wise we must grow closer to the giver of wisdom. That’s why I previously defined “the wise” as “those who are moving toward the Lord.”

Do you want to become wise? Draw near to the Lord and listen.

A Major Theme in Scripture

So listening to wisdom will make you wise. Duh.

Believe it or not, this idea is a major theme in the Bible. Adam and Eve woefully trusted themselves and not God for wisdom (Gen 3:6), and that choice initiated all our troubles. Ever since, God has graciously intervened, directing his people back to Himself (and away from themselves), as their confidence. For example, after Abram defeated the four most powerful kings of his day, the Lord appeared to him in a vision and said, “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great” (Gen 15:1).

When Jacob had to run for his life, God appeared to him in a dream and said, “I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I promised you” (Gen 28:15). It took Jacob a bit of time to get it, but eventually he did, as is clear from his declaration to his wives: “Your father does not regard me with favor as he did before, but the God of my father has been with me” (Gen 31:5).

Jesus targeted his own mission to those who knew they needed him and were willing to draw near to him. He built intimacy with and gave his wisdom to those who were spiritually:

“Scenes from Mgona” by khym54 (2007), shared under Creative Commons Attribution License
  • Sick: “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners” (Mark 2:17).
  • Poor: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matt 5:3).
  • Small: “He who is least among you all is the one who is great” (Luke 9:48).
  • Lost: “The Son of Man came to seek and save the lost” (Luke 19:10).

He came to humble the proud (Luke 1:51) and to blind those who see (John 9:39), so they might come to him (Matt 11:25-30). Those who thought they didn’t need him did nothing and ruined everything.

To summarize Solomon’s argument so far (Prov 2:1-8): If you listen to God’s wisdom, you will become wise because God wants you to depend on him for all things.

This post was first published in 2012 and is part of a series walking through Proverbs 1-9.

 

How to Listen to Wisdom

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Fimb (2009), Creative Commons Attribution

To become wise, you must learn to listen. Such listening has two parts.

1My son, if you receive my words
And treasure up my commandments with you,
2Making your ear attentive to wisdom
And inclining your heart to understanding
3Yes, if you call out for insight
And raise your voice for understanding,
4If you seek it like silver
And search for it as for hidden treasures. (Prov 2:1-4)

Solomon begins the chapter with a big “IF.” Receiving, treasuring, attending, inclining, calling out, raising your voice, seeking, and searching all boil down to one weighty concept: listening. He already commanded us to “hear” in Prov 1:8. He regretted our refusal to “listen” in Prov 1:24. He’ll come back to the topic of listening again in Prov 3:1, 21; 4:1, 10, 20; 5:1; 7:24; 8:6, and Prov 8:32. Listening is no small theme in Proverbs 1-9.

What does it mean to listen to wisdom? He breaks it down into two pieces: passive receiving and active seeking.

Passive Reception

First, he commands us to listen passively (Prov 2:1-2): receive, treasure, attend, and incline. There are many times when we don’t ask for advice, but it comes anyway. It might come in a form we like: a powerful sermon, a gentle rebuke, or a kind reminder. It might come in a form we don’t like: an angry critic, a disconsolate child, or a disgruntled coworker. Whatever shape wisdom takes, the question remains the same: Will you receive it? We’re like desperately hungry babies, and the food is placed right in our mouths. Will we munch on it or spit it out?

In other words, we ought to pay attention to the Bible and delight in it. We must be receptive to what wise people say — or even to wise things foolish people say — and avoid shifting blame or making excuses. In reading God’s word or in having it explained to us, we should be broken and changed by it. 

Are you approachable? How do you handle criticism? Are you willing to address weakness or failure? Do you have the courageous humility to focus more on how you need to grow than on how others need to grow? A mark of the wise Christian is the persistent and vigilant examination for logs in or around the eye (Matt 7:1-5).

Active Pursuit

Danard Vincente, Creative Commons Attribution

Second, Solomon commands us to listen actively (Prov 2:3-4): call, raise, seek, and search. Passive reception is not enough; Prov 2:3-4 instructs us to move on to active seeking. We must call out and raise our voices for understanding. We must seek wisdom as we would silver or a hidden treasure. If a woman lost her wedding ring, she would tear the house apart until she found it. She wouldn’t just wait passively for it to reappear on its own.

We can relate to this image, because we’re all treasure seekers. We arrange our lives to accommodate what’s most important to us. That’s why we bother to get married. That’s why we drag ourselves out of bed for 8:00 AM classes. That’s why we make peace with the long commute to the office. That’s why we stay up late for cinematic premieres. That’s why spend so long in front of the mirror before leaving the house each day. That’s why we go into debt. That’s why we’ll upheave our lives and relocate closer to our grandchildren.

If I fail to grow in wisdom, it’s not because I didn’t receive enough help. If I am not being fed spiritually, I am responsible to find food. If you are a teacher or a leader, you should not wait for people to give you suggestions for improvement; you should take initiative to ask for them. If you’re married, don’t wait for your spouse to bring up concerns; instead, regularly ask, “How do you think our marriage is going?” Consider asking someone to mentor you. If you want to understand the Bible better, plan time right in your schedule. If you don’t have a schedule, now would be a great time to make one.

To summarize: If you want to become wise, you must listen to wisdom. Listening involves both receiving it eagerly and seeking it passionately.

This post was first published in 2012 and is part of a series walking through Proverbs 1-9.

How to Become Wise

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A few Olympic cycles ago, I wrote about what the Olympics taught me about Bible study. The Olympics deliver drama spectacularly, but they fail at imparting instruction.

Who, by watching Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt run, would get any practical help with his own stride? Perhaps exposure to the Asian badminton teams could influence aspiring champions not to cheat. But how many gymnasts will improve their own dismounts from Team USA’s example? Or who, upon seeing footage of Michael Phelps’ races and interviews, would gain concrete ideas for faster flip-turns? Perhaps a few prodigies will learn well by merely watching and imitating the world’s greatest athletes, but most of us need more personal coaching, step-by-step instruction, and encouragement in the basics.

“Becoming a Wise Owl Takes a Lot of Concentration” by Ken Bosma (2008), shared under Creative Commons Attribution License

That’s why, in Proverbs 2, Solomon gets down on our level and shows us practical steps we can take to become wise. He’s already given the big picture in chapter 1; now he gives details on the process. Here we’ll find not just what we need to know, but what we need to do.

Proverbs 2 has a tight logic:

If you listen – 1-4

Then you’ll get started on the path of wisdom – 5

     Why? Because God wants to make you wise – 6-8

Then you’ll continue to grow in wisdom – 9

     Why? Because wisdom will change you – 10

Result: you’ll make different choices that protect you – 11

     From violent men – 12-15

     From adulterous women – 16-19

     For endurance on the right path – 20-22

Over the next few Proverbs posts, I’ll boil the argument down into three chief sections: If you listen (Prov 2:1-4), you’ll become wise (Prov 2:5-10), resulting in different choices (Prov 2:11-22).

This post was first published in 2012 and is part of a series walking through Proverbs 1-9.

Will You Destroy Yourself or Listen?

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You’ve got two choices: Destroy yourself or listen to Wisdom.

”For the simple are killed by their turning away,
And the complacency of fools destroys them;
But whoever listens to me will dwell secure
And will be at ease, without dread of disaster.” (Prov 1:32-33)

The road forks before you. Either you’ll turn at Wisdom’s reproof (Prov 1:23) or you’ll turn away from it (Prov 1:32). The simple lean into that second turn. In other words, to do nothing is to make the wrong turn. Just do nothing, and you’ll ruin everything. Keep doing what you’re doing, and you may get exactly what you want. But you’ll be like a partially delirious farm hand who politely declines their water break. If you’re complacent about your walk with Christ, you will severely harm yourself (Prov 1:32).

fluid pouring in pint glass
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

But if you listen to wisdom’s rebuke, consider what awaits you. Whoever listens to wisdom (Prov 1:33) will “dwell secure,” “be at ease”, and be “without dread of disaster.” It doesn’t mean that you get whatever you want, but that you always get what you most need.

One woman struggled with her husband’s failure to lead. He would delay decisions and hold his own opinions too highly. When she registered concern, he would ignore her perspective and stop listening to her. This young wife would resort to nagging and manipulation to get her way.

This woman was advised from Scripture to stop doing what she was doing and consider an alternate path. She could support her husband’s decisions even when she disagreed, as long as they didn’t involve sinning. She could pray that God would change her husband, and then she could trust that God was at work despite how she felt. She could get help from church leaders when he belittled or mistreated her.

It should come as no surprise that, when this woman chose the path of wisdom, her anxiety levels decreased, and she began asking her husband how she could better help him. As a result, he felt more respected and started listening to her opinions more. This couple found greater security and ease—and less fear—in their marriage. Their problems didn’t disappear, but dealing with their problems became increasingly simpler for them.

Christ our Wisdom

We must understand that wisdom is readily available, and we have only to listen. Wisdom already took initiative with us and came to us, not in a set of ideas, but in a person. Our duty is not to get everything just right and be perfect, but rather to set our hope in the one who got everything just right and was perfect for us. Jesus gave up everything and became nothing for us, so that we who deserve nothing might gain everything in Him.

Jesus our Wisdom offers us a choice between self-destruction and security:

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” (Mat 7:24-27)

All we have to do is hear, and then do, what He says. The main thing he has said is that we can trust him.  He has made himself available. Will you listen to him despite your love of being simple? Just do nothing, and you’ll ruin everything.

This post was first published in 2012 and is part of a series walking through Proverbs 1-9.

Why We Do What We Do

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What we do is a result of what we desire.

Because they hated knowledge
And did not choose the fear of the Lord,
Would have none of my counsel
And despised all my reproof,
Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way,
And have their fill of their own devices. (Prov 1:29-31)

The Bible’s Teaching on Desire

To understand this section, we must understand what the Bible teaches about desire. In particular, what we do is a result of what we desire. 2 Peter 3:3 states that those who scoff at the truth of God’s Word are simply “following their own sinful desires.” Jesus said that “the good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil,” just like different kinds of trees each produce their own kinds of fruit (Luke 6:43-45). This teaching means that we do certain things because we desire certain things.

boy holding cotton candyat the park
Photo by Mariana Kurnyk on Pexels.com

For example, someone yells in anger because he doesn’t get the respect he wants from others. Someone else views pornography out of a desire for comfort, escape, control, or pleasure. Another person says foolish or untrue things because she desperately wants people to like her. In all our actions, what we do is a result of what we desire.

Now when someone believes in Jesus, the Spirit of God takes up residence within him, giving him new godly desires. Galatians 5:16-26 provides a good explanation of this person’s situation. God’s Spirit intercepts his slavery to the old “desires of the flesh” (Gal 5:16). Those old desires won’t give up easily, though, so a battle ensues over which desires will hold supremacy in his heart (Gal 5:17). The presence of such inner turmoil is a sign that he is growing in grace, even if it feels to him like he’s a miserable failure. Thus, he must be reminded constantly that he is free from the penalty of God’s law because Jesus died for him (Gal 5:18). The more he gives in to the old desires, however, the more he will commit sinful actions (Gal 5:19-21). The more he trusts in Jesus through his Spirit, the more he will demonstrate godly character and behavior (Gal 5:22-24). Over time, the Spirit gains more and more ground over the flesh, and the old desires decrease in frequency and power (Gal 5:24-26).

This process is what we normally call Christian growth, or sanctification, and it’s not easy. But in our ignorant simplicity, we think this growth should be easy and not a battle.

The Problem with Wanting it to be Easy

One’s thinking might go like this: “Because I have become a believer in Jesus, I can now trust that certain thoughts, feelings, or desires I have must be from God. I will intuitively know when God is speaking to me or assuring me of a course of action.” This line of thinking can lead some people to foolish ideas like “God wants me to sleep with my partner because we love each other.”

Here’s a major implication of this teaching on desire, though: it is not necessarily a good thing for God to give you what you want. If you’re holding on to your old, sinful desires, it’s actually an act of judgment for God to grant your wishes. So when God loves people deeply, he doesn’t give them what they want; instead, he changes their desires so they will want what he wants. And since God is good and gracious, and He always wants what’s best for them, it’s a tremendous blessing for them to desire the same things God desires. They’ll live out of those beautiful desires and reap wonderful blessings.

Think of it like this: If a child wanted to eat cotton candy every day for lunch, would you let her do it? It’s what she wants, but you know it wouldn’t be in her best interest. Letting her have what she wants would kill her. So, if you care about her at all, you’d work to persuade and train her to desire something else (good nutrition). Once she desires a good thing, then it’s a blessing for her to live according to that desire.

The Point of Proverbs 1:29-31

What is the point? In Proverbs 1:29-31, notice that the “calamity” Wisdom warned against in Prov 1:26-27 is now described in Prov 1:31 as eating “the fruit of their way” and having “their fill of their own devices.” The judgment and distress that wisdom warns against is to get what we want and not what God wants. We’ll have more space to explore what exactly God wants for us when we reach Proverbs 3:13-26 . For now, take note of the fact that calamity results when we get what we want, and not what God wants.

How do we learn to desire what God desires? We must not “hate knowledge” (Prov 1:29). We must “choose the fear of the Lord” (Prov 1:29). We must heed wisdom’s counsel (Prov 1:30). We must not despise wisdom’s reproof (Prov 1:30). In other words, we must learn to suspect our own desires and learn from God’s Word what we should desire instead. Wisdom cries aloud to us. God loved us enough to write down all that he wanted us to know. Will we listen?

This post was first published in 2012.

The Lie of Easy Immaturity

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Doing nothing ruins everything. Therefore, if you think it’s easier not to change than it is to change, you are living a lie.

Because I have called and you refused to listen,
Have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded,
Because you have ignored all my counsel
And would have none of my reproof,
I also will laugh at your calamity;
I will mock when terror strikes you,
When terror strikes you like a storm
And your calamity comes like a whirlwind,
When distress and anguish come upon you.
Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer;
They will seek me diligently but will not find me. (Prov 1:24-28)

Something has to give. When we love our simplicity and do nothing about it, we are on a crash course with calamity. But who does that on purpose? When was the last time you said to yourself, “This thing I’m doing will destroy me and everything I treasure, so I think I’ll keep doing it as long as possible”? Calamity, terror, storm, whirlwind, distress, and anguish are not our friends.

exploded house in borodyanka
Photo by Алесь Усцінаў on Pexels.com

So why do we keep doing foolish things? Why do we remain immature? Why do we keep going to church, listening to sermons, and painting on smiles, but refuse to change? Why do we ignore counsel, yell at our kids, waste our time, live small lives, maintain distant relationships, and harbor bitter feelings and guilty pleasures? Have you ever led someone to Christ? Have you ever invited a co-worker to church with you? Have you learned how to lead a Bible study with your family or your neighbors? Do you exercise more leadership now than ever before in your life? Are you any more honest, trustworthy, gracious, respectable, or influential than you used to be? Have you ever asked people close to you if they’ve seen you grow in these areas?

We remain simple because we hold on to a deception: that it’s easier for us this way. We think our lives will be fun and carefree if we keep them small and manageable. This is not true. The reality is that our lives will be more difficult, more complicated, and more painful if we remain simple. If we refuse to hear wisdom’s call for repentance, wisdom will deny our call for help.

When the engine to your vehicle blows up, you’ll wish you had learned how to maintain it over time. When your neighbor sues you for encroaching on his property line, you’ll wish you had cultivated the relationship better and fostered more open communication. When you face painful and chronic health issues in old age, you’ll wish you had heeded the wisdom of exercising more and smoking or eating less.

Let me make one qualification. I’m not saying that bad things are always the result of our own sin or foolishness. Many passages in Scripture, such as Job and John 9:1-3, deny such a conclusion. I’m simply saying that choices have consequences, and we ought not be deceived about this fact (Gal 6:7, 1 Pet 4:15). God often allows us to experience the consequences of our own decisions. It’s merciful for him to do so, for it might jolt us out of our deception and motivate us to turn from it. But one of the most disastrous choices is to remain simple. Just do nothing, and you’ll ruin everything.

This post was first published in 2012.

We Love Being Simple

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Wisdom is available, but we don’t change because we love being simple.

“How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple?
How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing
And fools hate knowledge?
If you turn at my reproof,
Behold, I will pour out my spirit to you;
I will make my words known to you.” (Prov 1:22-23)

Wisdom’s accusation is not that we don’t know enough, or that we’re underprivileged, or even that we’re not gifted with wisdom. Rather, she asks directly, “How long will you love being simple?” We like immaturity, and we choose to ignore wisdom. We don’t want to grow up. We refuse to take responsibility. We prefer to stay put.

a person writing his wish list
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Note that in the second and third lines of Prov 1:22 she switches from talking to the “simple ones” to talking about “scoffers” and “fools.” The simple one is not yet in the same class as a scoffer or a fool, but he will get there soon if he doesn’t do something. The key point here is that wisdom’s rebuke in this passage is not for those who have rejected her outright. She’s not talking to amoral heathen. She’s talking to religious people who hear her instruction regularly, but who haven’t yet assimilated it. She’s talking to those who are young in their faith or immature in their thinking. She’s speaking to those who, for one reason or another, love their current lives and don’t really want to change.

In Prov 1:23, she’s back to addressing the simple ones with “if you turn at my reproof.” Our greatest need is to turn. We have to stop doing what we’re doing, stop thinking what we’re thinking, and stop believing what we’re believing.

For example, maybe you talk too much (Prov 10:19). You know it, and everyone else sure knows it. If someone tells a story, you have to tell one, too. If there’s an issue to discuss, you’re compelled to make sure they understand you on it. When you start talking, people stop listening. Perhaps you’ve come to terms with it, even apologizing for it. Maybe you’ve given people freedom just to interrupt you if you’re talking too much. But the problem here is not that people aren’t honest enough with you. The problem is that you love yourself and you don’t want to change.

Or maybe you’re more of the quiet type (Prov 18:1). You’d never answer a question in a classroom setting. If people ask how you’re doing, you’ll generously drop a safe “fine” or the occasionally risky “pretty good.” If they want more details, they can ask. No one really knows you, but you’re okay with that. If they don’t know you, they can’t hurt your feelings the way others did in the past. You’ve accepted the fact that you’re just an “introvert”; it’s how God made you. You’re more of a behind-the-scenes person than an up-front person. But wisdom’s rebuke lands right in the middle of your excuses: Your life’s not changing because you don’t want it to change.

Personal Application

I need to hear wisdom’s rebuke just as much as anybody else.

I’m not very handy, partly because I grew up in a family that never owned a home. Whenever something broke, we’d call the landlords. My wife, however, grew up on a 9-acre lot in rural Pennsylvania. They never saw an improvement they didn’t like.

So when we got married, Erin had to persuade me to become a homeowner. She succeeded, and my life has lacked a comfort zone ever since. You see, I’m terrified of the unknown. When we bought our first home, fear gripped my heart so completely that when I went to unpack my office, I didn’t even know what to do. I looked around at all the boxes and got so depressed and overwhelmed by the whole thing that I just lay down on the couch and did nothing. When Erin came downstairs from her own unpacking and saw me lying there, she didn’t buy my excuse that “I didn’t know what to do.” She pointed to a box, said “How ‘bout we start with this one?” and began removing its contents.

The problem was not my upbringing, nor was it my personal preferences. The problem was that I loved being simple. I had never owned or maintained a home, I didn’t want to keep up a home, and I didn’t want to learn how to keep up a home. And I didn’t make those choices based on careful study of Scripture accompanied by Spirit-driven meditation. It’s not that I conscientiously believed renting a home would honor Christ more than owning a home would. No, I simply didn’t want to change. I didn’t want the increased responsibility.

When Jesus came, he looked for those with functioning ears to hear what he had to say (Matt 13:9, 13-17; see also Rev 2:7, 11, etc.). He cries out to us, calling us to repentance and faith that we might walk with him in his kingdom. Will you come to him, or love remaining simple (Matt 11:28-30, John 5:39-40)?

This post was first published in 2012.