Be Careful

Scripture Reading: Proverbs 9:4-18

8/9/21

              Proverbs 9:4 and 9:16 say the same thing: “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here! And to him who lacks sense, she says…” They are both personifications a thing and projections of what that thing would say if it were a living person. But while the words are identical, the imagined speakers are complete opposites. Verse four is quoting wisdom, and verse 16 is quoting folly.

              Wisdom is pictured as an honorable and wealthy woman who has prepared a banquet. She sends out her maidservants to invite everyone and anyone to the feast. What she offers is beneficial and good. Her food will promote health and life.

              Folly is portrayed as a prostitute. She is foolish herself, but she does have one thing on her side – she knows how to seduce. She wanders around town luring men to her home. She sits outside her door and waits for passerby's to be lured by her seductive looks and talk. What those who are tempted to enter her house don’t know is everyone who enters walks into a trap. Death awaits inside.

              Now, what is quite instructive is the way both Wisdom and Folly are calling with the same words. This means we need discernment to distinguish between them. It isn’t always as easy as we might suppose. Wisdom and Folly have nothing in common. They are distinctly different in character and in what they offer and what they produce. Nevertheless, to the “simple” they sound the same.

              We need to train our spiritual senses in discernment. We can do this through consistent reading and studying of the Scriptures, in prayer, and by being spiritually cautious and alert. Things aren’t always what they seem or make themselves out to be. Folly doesn’t present herself as folly. She sounds a lot like wisdom.

              Be careful about who you listen to.