Wise and Foolish
April 27|The Way of the Wise Series
April 27|The Way of the Wise Series
READ Proverbs 27 (listen). WRITE out one verse and SHARE with someone.
The wise are cautious and avoid danger; fools plunge ahead with reckless confidence. Proverbs 14:16 (NLT)
Read: Proverbs 14:16
Listen: Proverbs 14
The book of Proverbs introduces us to two characters (or types of behavior), the fool and the wise. Often contrasted, Proverbs describes these two behaviors for us to evaluate ourselves in light of what makes a person either “foolish” or “wise.” It’s as if the writer of Proverbs has experienced both of these first-hand, perhaps more than a few times, and learned well the value of wisdom. His goal now is to teach what he’s learned to others.
It’s important to note we’re all, in some respect, both wise and foolish. No one is a fool all the time, nor is someone wise all the time. It really depends on the situation. The key is being able to determine those areas in our lives where we’re acting like a fool. We need to identify where we need to both attain wisdom and, in the power of the Holy Spirit, begin to act on it.
There is probably no better time than during our stay-at-home directive to identify foolish areas and begin to make changes. The choices we make during our altered schedules can largely shape who we are when the directive lifts. Daily choices do matter as we move down the path of wisdom. We cannot miss this unique opportunity to avoid “reckless confidence” and really listen to The Way of the Wise.
Identify an area where you need to become wiser and act with wisdom. Because it’s often easier to identify this in others, ask a trusted friend or a wise follower of Jesus (who knows you well) for some insight. This can be difficult because our tendency might be to dismiss what we hear. But be open being teachable and use it as the first step in moving down the path of wisdom.
Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.