Proverbs 1:22 (CB)

How long will you who are simple love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge?”

THE OPPOSITE OF WISDOM. Throughout the book of Proverbs the opposite of wisdom is called foolishness. In Proverbs fools make life miserable for themselves and others around them. We can’t treat our body any way we want without consequences. We can’t treat people any way we want and expect to have good friends and a strong family. We can’t live selfish lives and expect the social fabric to remain intact. Fools sow and reap discord and destruction. The ultimate foolishness is to make anything the center of our lives besides God. That will always lead to disappointment and breakdown. Jesus describes the “foolish man” whose home is built on sand instead of on the solid rock of Christ’s word and wisdom (Matthew 7:24–26).

Prayer: Lord, reality in this fallen world is both wonderful and terrible. Help me see it for what it is, and teach me to walk wisely in it, by keeping you the center of my life. Amen.