Being Wise in an Unwise World
We like options – lots of options! That is especially true when it comes to wisdom. We want to debate which variance is better. Pick and choose what we deem to be the perfect fit for us. This is so prevalent that we call this being picky and prioritizing our preference as being wise. The better our choice proves to be, the wiser we deem ourselves to be.
Our human/horizontal (--) definition of what it means to be wise is simply: to be right. Know the right thing to say – the right thing to do – the right way – the right time. In the previous lesson, What Wise Looks Like, we discerned that instead of a horizontal definition we need a vertical (I) one – a divine perspective. Being wise looks like Jesus. Instead of just being right, it is being righteous: rightly connected with God so His attitude and attributes define our behavior, thinking and speech. The simple answer to What does unwise look like is: it doesn’t look like Jesus.
How did we get to this place where unwise looks like being wise? Proverbs 1:7-19 answers that question.
#1 We naturally have a wrong perspective on things.
Proverbs 1:7a says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.” It has to come from a heavenly viewpoint. We, on the other hand, make our assessment and our decisions from a very limited perspective. More often then not, it is based on feelings, logic, justification and influences, other than God.
#2 By nature, we are foolish at heart.
As children, being naïve is expected and a part of being immature. But as we age, continued immaturity is willfulness. Proverbs 1:7b Fools despise wisdom and instruction. We don’t like being told what to do. We really don’t like being told we are wrong. One way to keep that from happening is redefining what it means to be wise.
#3 We have a totally wrong attitude.
Proverbs 1:9 tells us that our fathers’ instructions and mothers’ teachings are “a graceful wreath to your head and ornaments about your neck,” instead, we see rules, guidelines, do’s and don’ts as nooses and leashes.
#4 We are oblivious to the obvious.
Proverbs 1:10-16 10My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent. 11 If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood, let us ambush the innocent without cause; 12 let us swallow them alive like Sheol, even whole, as those who go down to the pit; 13we will find all kinds of precious wealth, we will fill our houses with spoil; 14throw in your lot with us, we shall all have one purse,” 15My son, do not walk in the way with them. Keep your feet from their path, 16For their feet run to evil and they hasten to shed blood.
How does that even sound tempting? Yet we fall for the ridiculous over and over again. 1 John 2:16 tells us “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.” The world offers us a way to feel good, look good or be good. We label it “wise” and go for it. Remember: the fingerprints of the demonic are justifications.
#5 We are gullible.
Proverbs 1:17 Indeed, it is useless to spread the baited net in the sight of any bird. Yet somehow we only see the bait. 1 Peter 5:8 warns us: Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. We don’t hear the roar. We don’t see his footprints or the scat he leaves behind. All we see is our favorite “want” right there for the taking, and we walk right into the obvious trap.
#6 We are deceived.
Trying to get for ourselves, we end up getting got. Proverbs 1:18 -19 They lie in wait for their own blood; they ambush their own lives. So are the ways of everyone who gains by violence; it takes away the life of its possessors.
Solomon had to plead with his son. God has to plead with us, because we think we have what we don’t or don’t need what is absolutely necessary.
Wisdom is beautiful. Solomon equates her to a fine woman. She is personal, attractive, but also dignified. Proverbs 1:20,21 says, “Wisdom shouts in the street, she lifts her voice in the square; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the gates in the city she utters her sayings.”
- ”Shouts” sounds loud, demanding and intrusive. The Hebrew word is ranan. It means to sing or exclaim with joy, to share wonderful news or truth. It is full of excitement, attracts attention, and is definitely worth hearing. It stands out in contrast to all the noise going on around “her.”
- “Cries out” in verse 21 is qara, which means to call, to invite, to summon. It is one of those words where the setting determines the shade of meaning. Wisdom means to draw attention, but you have to choose to stop and pay attention to notice.
- “Utters” is amar. It means to have something important to say. But don’t expect it to insist on being heard. Wisdom doesn’t get louder until you hear it, but actually softer to draw you in.
Satan wants to drown out what wisdom has to say with all the noise on the streets, coming from our devices, and filling the airways. Ephesians 2:2 doesn’t call Satan “the prince of the power of the air” for nothing. His goal is to distort and distract, so we ignore or dismiss the message of righteousness that Wisdom has to share. We need to lean in and listen to what “she” has to say.
Proverbs 1:22,23 “How long, O naïve ones, will you love being simple-minded? And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing, and fools hate knowledge? Turn to my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you.
We were great until the word “reproof.” Then that little rebellious voice in the back of our minds start protesting: “I knew it! It is going to tell me how big a screw up I am, how everything I think, say and do is wrong, remind me I am inadequate and a loser. I am fine the way I am. Thank you, but no thank you!”
The Hebrew word for “reproof” is tokehah. It does mean correcting what is wrong. However, it doesn’t come with an intent of beating down, but lifting up. It comes from a place of grace that wants and pursues best.
It is our resistance to reproof and God’s wisdom that got us to where we are today with our distorted understanding of what being wise truly means.
How did we get to where we distort what wise truly means?
1. Proverbs 1:24a I called and you refused,
Wisdom had something to say (qara), but we refuse to listen. The word translated “refused” is ma’en, which means to stubbornly and emphatically reject. We respond with heals-dug-in stubbornness! On going stubbornness can be quite serious and lead to a repeat of Psalm 81:11,12 in our lives or country. “But My people did not listen to My voice, and Israel did not obey Me. So I gave them over to the stubbornness of their heart, to walk in their own devices.”
2. Proverbs 1:24b I stretched out my hand and no one paid attention;
Back to being oblivious to the obvious! “No one paid attention” is qasab in Hebrew: didn’t see, didn’t hear, didn’t notice, even though it is right there in our faces. We get lost somewhere in autopilot, oblivion and unconsciousness. The Lord doesn’t use just His word and His Spirit speaking in a still quiet voice, He uses everything and everyone. We have to pay attention. We have to want to hear.
3. Proverbs 1:25a You neglected all my counsel
Neglected (para’) means to ignore, let it go unheeded. His guidance is deemed insignificant and treated with indifference. Sometimes this comes from an over-inflated opinion of ourselves – we deem ourselves above it, but more often than not this actually comes from underestimating our value and potential. “I’ll never go there or be able to do that, so this doesn’t apply to me.” Proverbs 15:31,32 says, “He whose ear listens to the life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise. He who neglects discipline despises himself, but he who listens to reproof acquires understanding.”
4. Proverbs 1:25b You did not want my reproof
We just don’t want it. Loh = unwilling, unyielding, uncooperative, resistant. There are several different kinds of resistance: denial, dismissive, duck and dodge, deflecting and defensiveness. We’ve mastered them all.
We have to take an honest look at ourselves. When warned, confronted or convicted, do any of these describe our reactions and responses? Are we wise or unwise? We can’t be flippant with our response or our evaluation. There can be big time consequences for being unwise.
Proverbs 1:24-32 But since you rejected me when I called and no one gave heed when I stretched out my hand, since you ignored all my advice and would not accept my rebuke, I in turn will laugh at your disaster; I will mock when calamity overtakes you — when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble overwhelm you. Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me. Since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the LORD, since they would not accept my advice and spurned my rebuke, they will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes. For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them.
Scary! If you want to see this played out in real life, pick up a history book or the newspaper.
Let’s end on a good note: “But he who listens to me shall live securely and will be at ease from the dread of evil.” (Proverbs 1:33)
- Securely (batach) means calm assurance, inner sense of well-being, unexplained confidence.
- Ease – which doesn’t mean easy – is the Hebrew word sa’an = a state of security, peace and rest; undisturbed. In other words, not freaked out!
It is these things because it isn’t about what is happening on the horizontal level, but because the truly wise wisdom, the perspective, power, and provision is flowing vertically into our minds and hearts, and out our lives and mouth.
Proverbs 3:21b-26 Keep sound wisdom and discretion, so they will be life to your soul and adornment to your neck. Then you will walk in your way securely and your foot will not stumble. When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Do not be afraid of sudden fear nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes; for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught.
