Wisdom is important. Throughout the Bible, our time here on earth is compared to as a journey along a path.  People will often say, “stay on the straight and narrow” when referring to how we live our lives.  In Hebrews the Bible says…

12 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the [a]author and [b]finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:1-2 New King James Version (NKJV)

Those walking on this journey have two options: follow after wisdom or be foolish.  Today, I want to look at the wise man and the fool.  Our text for today is Proverbs 9.  This chapter outlines the wise man and the fool.  

Our Text

Wisdom has built her house,

She has hewn out her seven pillars;

She has slaughtered her meat,

She has mixed her wine,

She has also [a]furnished her table.

She has sent out her maidens,

She cries out from the highest places of the city,

“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”

As for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,

“Come, eat of my bread

And drink of the wine I have mixed.

Forsake foolishness and live,

And go in the way of understanding.

Proverbs 9:1-6

A foolish woman is [b]clamorous;

She is simple, and knows nothing.

For she sits at the door of her house,

On a seat by the highest places of the city,

To call to those who pass by,

Who go straight on their way:

“Whoever is [c]simple, let him turn in here”;

Proverbs 9:13-16

Firstly, here we see where wisdom resides.  It sits at “the highest places of the city”.  In Contrast folly does the following.  Folly sits by the highest places as counterfeit to the real thing.  It says here “to call to those who pass by, who go straight on their way…”  It is the distraction the weight that so easily besets us, but as we see here it will always be present.  

When going on the path God has called you on, there is always opportunity to turn aside. 

A person living in this life must get used to the calls of folly along the path to wisdom.  Every time God gives an opportunity for success there will always be the option of folly along the way.  The wise man will press on looking past what is by the highest place and onto the wisdom itself. 

How often does this really happen?

Look at your life.  What have you allowed into it.  Do you have pain that never goes away yet you accept as God’s best?  What is that desire you always had yet resigned yourself that this is the best it’s ever going to be.  

These are examples where we have turned aside and allowed the devil to tell us what we accept in our lives.

Moving to wisdom requires walking

The Bible says that we 

7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.

2 Corinthians 5:7 New King James Version (NKJV)

Walk past those things you see to what God is calling you to by FAITH.  

How do we see this wisdom?  The verse says, “Come, eat of my bread. And drink of the wine I have mixed. Forsake foolishness and live, And go in the way of understanding.”  Likewise, the bread always represents the Bible.  To eat the bread is to meditate on it.  To drink the wine is to partake of the spirit.  (Notice the first follows the second.)  Doing these things is not enough, however, you must next forsake foolishness and then you will live.  Leave the way of folly.  Think on God’s word and be wary of the opportunities along the path to stumble.  

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