Wisdom vs Folly

Wisdom has built her house; she has carved its seven columns.  She has prepared a great banquet, mixed the wines, and set the table  She has sent her servants to invite everyone to come.  She calls out from the heights overlooking the city.  "Come in with me," she urges the simple.  To those who lack good judgement, she says, "Come, eat my food. and drink the wine I have mixed  Leave your simple ways behind, and begin to live; learn to use good judgement."

Proverbs 9:1-6

Wisdom appeals to the mind.  She takes the time to prepare a grand party and uses her servants to invite everyone they know.  She is kind and inviting.  She isn't afraid to use the best of wines and her expensive silverware nor is she selective in who she invites in.  She encourages her guests to leave behind their old lives and invites them to start really living.  She persuades her guests to use good judgement and join in on her new way of living, something that can last a lifetime. 

The woman named Folly is brash.  She is ignorant and doesn't know it.  She sits in her doorway on the heights overlooking the city.  She calls out to men going by who are minding their own business.  "Come in with me," she urges the simple.  To those who lack good judgement, she says, "Stolen water is refreshing; food eaten in secret tastes the best!"  But little do they know that the dead are there.  Her guests are in the depths of the grave.

Proverbs 9:13-18

Folly is not interested in taking the time to plan a grand party, in fact, she has stolen everything that she claims to have and she is not afraid to sound desperate in her invitations.  She is proud and ignorant appealing to the senses.  Picking out the men walking by who are desperate for a good time, catching them off guard, she persuades them by highlighting her sinful habits.  She hides her loneliness and pain.

Folly is only looking for a good time where wisdom takes her decisions seriously.  Wisdom weighs the pros and cons of her decisions and she is responsible and shows good character.  Folly chooses the easy way, the most sensual way that gives immediate satisfaction without thinking of the future and the consequences of her choices.  She tricks herself into believing she is happy and ignores the loneliness in her life.  My dear friends, every day we are faced with wisdom and folly.  Every day we are presented with things that can hurt us or help us grow.  Are you making decisions based on wisdom or are you searching for immediate fun?  Sin is enticing and looks fun from the outside but once you choose that direction it becomes lonely and can be hard to escape.  Although sinful behavior can seem more exciting than the Christian life, please remember who is inviting you to that sin.  Remember this scripture and evaluate the motives behind the invitation and always ask God what you should do. 

How much better to get wisdom than gold, and good judgement that silver!

Proverbs 16:16