The wise and foolish are often contrasted in Proverbs. The characteristics, reputation and results of each are well worth knowing - if wisdom is your goal.
What Is Your Goal?
The Bible says a wise man gives good advice but the foolish man lacks common sense:
Proverbs 10:21 - "The lips of the righteous feed many; but fools die for want of wisdom.
Now, I've seen foolish Christians and I'm sure you have too... but I can guarantee a foolish Christian is not walking in the way God instructs, or they would not be so foolish. On the other hand, I've seen many intelligent, unsaved men and they have worldly wisdom - but not God's wisdom - and they are foolish.
Proverbs 16:16 "How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! Yea, to get understanding is rather to be chosen than silver".
Gaining Godly wisdom is better than acquiring worldly wealth. Many men take exceptional care and great pains to gain wealth, only to fight the fear of losing it. They are foolish and their goal is to strive to hold onto what they can never keep.
Yet, a man with Godly wisdom knows to be content with what God has given him and his fears are not about losing worldly wealth. His goal is to not lose the joy of his salvation, the assurance of God's leading and his heavenly rewards.
Having a high IQ doesn't mean you are wise - it only means you are intelligent and being wise about worldly things doesn't mean you have true wisdom.
Proverbs 4:9 "Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favor".
Being foolish is a laughing matter to an unsaved person. His goal is to be free from guilt and to have all the fun he can. When he commits sin he laughs at it; instead of being ashamed of it, and humbled for it, he makes a mock of it, and a jest of it, and of the reproofs and admonitions of godly men. Sin is a pastime, he takes as much delight and pleasure in it as men do in their sports, and commits it as openly and freely; yes, not only takes pleasure in doing it himself, but in them that do it.
He may be intelligent but he's foolish and lacks true wisdom.
Proverbs 14:15 The simple (or foolish man) believeth every word: but the prudent man (a man with wisdom) looketh well to his going.
The first part of this proverb describes those who give heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; they believe as their church believes (no matter the doctrine); they believe with an implicit faith; they believe every word and doctrine their church says they should --- these are the "simple" - or fools who give up their understanding, and even their senses, and pin their faith upon another man's word. They may be intelligent but they lack true wisdom. Their goal is to appear to be wise and godly but they deny Jesus by the way they live.
Listen, you should strive to be like the Bereans who heard Paul and Silas preach, but instead of accepting what they preached as the truth they search the Scriptures to see if what they preached was the truth.
Acts 17:11 "Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of the mind, examining the Scriptures daily, whether these things were so".
See, the Bereans had a goal... they wanted the truth and because they searched the Scriptures for the truth they found it! They were wise and noble.
What is your goal?
Proverbs 14:15 The simple (or foolish man) believeth every word: but the prudent man (a man with wisdom) looketh well to his going.
The second part of the above verse talks about a man who has wisdom: his goal is to take heed to his ways to walk rightly before the Lord. He wants to make sure he is not walking in ways of his own devising and choosing, but in God's ways. He makes sure he is in the way of life and salvation by Christ, and in the way of holiness. He makes sure he has chosen the way of Truth (according to God's Word and not mans word), and walks so that every step he takes in doctrine is according to the Word of Truth. His goal is to make sure he has Christ for a pattern, and the Spirit for a guide; and that his walk is as becomes the Gospel, worthy of the calling wherein he is called, and that it is circumspect and wise; and such a man may be truly said to be a man of wisdom.
Proverbs 15:14 The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge (wisdom); But the mouth of fools feedeth on folly.
We can see in the first part of the above verse that a wise man's goal is to seek to increase his wisdom and he is hungry for God's Truth. The heart of a wise man with understanding, rejoices in the knowledge he has attained but still covets more and labors for more, as he grows in grace and in the knowledge of Christ. In the second part of the verse we see that a fool's goal is to be well satisfied with his folly and not seek the cure of it. His carnal mind feasts on the gratifications of his appetites. Vain entertainment and sensual pleasures are his goal and with these he seems content.
Proverbs 17:10 "A reprimand impresses a person who has understanding more than a hundred lashes impress a fool". (GWB)
"A word is enough to the wise. A gentle reproof will enter not only into the head, but into the heart of a wise man, so as to have a strong influence upon him; for, if but a hint be given to conscience, let it alone to carry it on and prosecute it. Stripes are not enough for a fool, to make him sensible of his errors, that he may repent of them, and be more cautious for the future. He that is stubborn and willful is very rarely benefited by severity. King David was softened with, "Thou art the man"; but Pharaoh remained hard under all the plagues of Egypt". (Matthew Henry's commentary)
Proverbs 28:26 "Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered".
"The Christian is "wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil". The wisdom of God gives a wise man the knowledge to avoid evil; the government of God provides for all the rest." (Darby's commentary)
Proverbs 29:11 "Stupid people express their anger openly, but sensible people are patient and hold it back." (Good News Bible)
Some people take pride in "speaking their mind" to others but God says that kind of person is a fool.
"A fool uttereth all his mind,.... His goal is to tell all he knows, all that is in his heart; whatever he thinks, and all that he intends to do; what or whom he loves or hates. Or, "a fool brings out all his wrath"; it breaks out at once, even all of it, and is soon known, as in Proverbs 12:16 "When a fool is annoyed, he quickly lets it be known. Smart people will ignore an insult." (Gill's commentary)
"But a wise man's goal is to keep it in till afterwards. He reserves his mind, and thoughts, and designs, to himself; and does not uncover them until a proper opportunity offers itself; or he restrains his wrath and anger, defers showing it until a proper time, when it may answer a better purpose, and he may do it without sin." (Gill's commentary)
Proverbs 24:3 - 6 "Homes are built on the foundation of wisdom and understanding. Where there is knowledge, the rooms are furnished with valuable, beautiful things. Being wise is better than being strong; yes, knowledge is more important than strength. After all, you must make careful plans before you fight a battle, and the more good advice you get, the more likely you are to win."
So what is your goal? Is it to seek God's wisdom and be content in this life, or is it to seek after the pleasures of this world and be a fool?
1Corinthians 1:20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
1Corinthians 3:18 - 20 "Let no man deceive himself. If any man thinketh that he is wise among you in this world, let him become a fool, that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He that taketh the wise in their craftiness: and again, The Lord knoweth the reasoning's of the wise that they are vain".
Father, God, I confess my own sins about not seeking your wisdom as I should. Doing this study on wise and foolish men has caused me to be ashamed of my conduct in the past.
So often, when I get really angry, I become like the fool who "uttereth all his mind" and I don't want to be this way! I want to be full of your grace and wisdom like the wise man who "restrains his wrath and anger" and does not sin against you.
As I read more in your word help me to memorize the verses so I might not sin against you. And let me live in such a way that my children and grandchildren will see how your wisdom can change a person's heart and life.
My goal is to be filled with your wisdom and to walk as a wise man does in humility of mind. I know you will help me to listen to words of reproof with a humble heart and to obey what you reveal to me in your Holy Scriptures.
Thank You Father God for your faithfulness, your love and your Holy Spirit who gives me guidance. May I never again shame the name I wear: "Christian".
I pray this in Jesus name - Amen.
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"The Lord bless thee, and, keep thee. The Lord make his face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee. The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee and give thee peace " ~ Numbers 6:24-26.
In His tender care always,
Dot
"Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which does so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us."~~ HEBREWS 12:1
"Anything that dims my vision of Christ, or takes away my taste for Bible study, or cramps my prayer life, or makes Christian work difficult, is wrong for me, and I must, as a Christian, turn away from it."
~~ J. Wilbur Chapman (1859-1918)
Acknowledgements
* A lot of my studies are done using my Life Application Study Bible (KJV) by Tyndale House Publishers and I heavily rely on the explanatory notes for each verse I use because I can not explain them better.
* I often rely on my New American Standard Bible by Thomas Nelson Publishers for double checking the meaning of the verses I used in the King James Version. Not that I think the NAS Bible is better than the KJV Bible, but it gives me more insight into some of the KJV Bible verses.
* Most of my studies are done using the E-Sword program from this site: http://www.e-sword.net/ I downloaded all their commentaries and bought others. The maps and teachers aids are so valuable that I can now do a study in half the time I took before. All the quotes from commentaries by great Theologians came from the E-Sword program.
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