Proverbs Essay

Wisdom or Foolishness


Many times when we think of a wise man, we picture a gray-headed sage peering over wire-rimmed spectacles, giving advice and making profound statements. We may think of a fool as an immature, simpering joker. But how does the Bible portray wise and foolish men?

First, I think we must consider the source of wisdom, which is God Almighty. The traits of God are not simply parts of His character, they are Who He is. Therefore, a wise man will stay close to the source of wisdom by walking with God. The first priority of a wise man will be his relationship with God. A foolish man walks in his own way, which leads to destruction. He may seek worldly wisdom, but he ignores the source of true wisdom.

The second point to contemplate is the strength of wisdom. This is one aspect of wisdom that God speaks of specifically to both men and women. When a man possesses wisdom, he has the strength to flee temptation. He has character, integrity, and a strong work ethic. The Proverbs thirty-one lady labors long hours at many tasks and strengthens her whole body. Conversely, the fool is lazy, flirts with and falls for temptation, and is content with average stamina.

Lastly, think of the spirit of wisdom. Wisdom goes much deeper than simply controlling one’s actions: wisdom governs the attitude of its possessor. A wise man’s spirit will be humble in accepting reproof, grateful for God’s blessings, and compassionate towards the lost. On the other hand, the spirit of a fool is haughty, unthankful, deceitful, and cold.

As we have seen, the fool ignores God’s offer of wisdom, enjoys living in weakness, and allows his spirit to be controlled by wickedness. God’s Word exemplifies a wise man as one who stays close to the source of wisdom, strives to have the strength of wisdom, and sustains a spirit of wisdom. May we continually shun foolishness and embrace wisdom by building character, having a right spirit, and, most importantly, by walking with God!