Imagine yourself in a busy marketplace; people rushing passed each other, bumping into one another with stern, focused faces. They’re all determined to get to where they want to go or go where they need to be. In the midst of this is a lady screaming into the crowd but no one’s listening. This woman sounds crazy though she’s anything but. She grabs people and tries with all she has to get their attention with all her strength but is sorrowfully unable to get the attention of most. However, some stop and listen to her plea. What does she want? What does she so desperately need? It turns out she needs nothing, instead her desire is to give something. What she’s offering is immensely valuable, and if people would stop to listen, they would be eternally grateful.
Who is this lady and what is she offering? According to the book of Proverbs, her name is wisdom and she’s offering to give wisdom to all who stop and listen. Wow, what a scene! Wisdom is calling out to us. But wait, shouldn’t this be the other way around? She’s offering something so valuable as people bypass and disregard her. Shouldn’t these people seek her instead? I mean, this would be like Jewelry stores sending their jewelers into the streets to offer free gold. It just doesn’t make sense. If people would simply turn off their cell phones, inspector gadget watches, remove their in-ear, isolating headphones, they could receive the one thing most people want and need, wisdom. Perhaps our inability to stop and listen for wisdom is what’s keeping us from reaching our highest potentials.
But who is wisdom calling? She’s calling 3 types of people. She’s calling the simple, the scoffers and the fools. Sounds harsh, but that’s exactly who we are if we’re not wise. You’re either a wise person, a simple person, a scoffer or a fool. The simple is simply ignorant. He makes mistakes because he doesn’t know any better. The scoffer knows better but refuses to do the right thing out of rebellion. And the fool, well, is just someone who has gotten comfortable in his unwise ways. Which of these are you?
Who is this lady and what is she offering? According to the book of Proverbs, her name is wisdom and she’s offering to give wisdom to all who stop and listen. Wow, what a scene! Wisdom is calling out to us. But wait, shouldn’t this be the other way around? She’s offering something so valuable as people bypass and disregard her. Shouldn’t these people seek her instead? I mean, this would be like Jewelry stores sending their jewelers into the streets to offer free gold. It just doesn’t make sense. If people would simply turn off their cell phones, inspector gadget watches, remove their in-ear, isolating headphones, they could receive the one thing most people want and need, wisdom. Perhaps our inability to stop and listen for wisdom is what’s keeping us from reaching our highest potentials.
But who is wisdom calling? She’s calling 3 types of people. She’s calling the simple, the scoffers and the fools. Sounds harsh, but that’s exactly who we are if we’re not wise. You’re either a wise person, a simple person, a scoffer or a fool. The simple is simply ignorant. He makes mistakes because he doesn’t know any better. The scoffer knows better but refuses to do the right thing out of rebellion. And the fool, well, is just someone who has gotten comfortable in his unwise ways. Which of these are you?