Who's a Fool?

When we dip into Proverbs, we go there looking for wisdom. Sometimes we go there seeking wisdom in a particular area--relation wisdom, financial wisdom, moral wisdom--and that is good. But Proverbs is so much more than sage advice for getting along in the world. It shows us that wisdom isn't so much what we do as what we believe. Real wisdom is defined by Proverbs as "the fear of the Lord," which, to be brief here, is another way of saying, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind" (Matt. 22:37). In a nutshell, Proverbs points us to Jesus and our need of him, because he is the only one who lived wisely all the time. He is the perfect wise man, and we, more often than not, tend toward folly. As I've studied Proverbs in recent months, I've come up with a list of fool-traits. A few of them are listed here:

1. A foolish woman is easily enticed by the world. "If sinners entice you, do not consent. If they say . . . 'We shall find all precious goods, we shall fill our houses with plunder; throw in your lot among us; we will all have one purse" . . . do not walk in the way with them; hold back your foot from their paths" (1:10–15). A woman easily enticed by the world is also often materialistic and ambitious for success by the world's standards. She allows worldly philosophies to shape her understanding about everything. For such a woman, self-esteem and self-worth can seem to her more valuable than following Christ in a lifestyle of self-denial.

2. A foolish woman believes the lie that security lies in material blessings: "Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf" (11:28).

3. A foolish woman hates knowledge. She is one who shuns, ignores, disdains, scorns, or rationalizes away biblical wisdom and counsel. She lives by the dictates of her emotions, and she insists on fulfilling her personal desires and believes that her way of thinking is always the right way. To such a woman Proverbs asks, "How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?" (1:22).

4. A foolish woman is complacent. A complacent woman is contented with a mediocre Christian life. She fails to grasp the truth that there is no middle road, no fence-sitting, when it comes to discipleship; we are at all times either going forward or going backward. "The complacency of fools will destroy them" (1:32).

5. A foolish woman is lazy. Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise" (6:6). The ant-like principle of industriousness applies equally to spiritual matters and to every other area of our lives. Proverbs issues a call to exercise ourselves toward wisdom and good judgment in all our ways and relationships. Foolish women tend to sit back and wait for it all to just magically happen.

6. A foolish woman is sinfully independent. She seeks autonomy from God and others. "A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; he rages against all wise judgment" (18:1)

Do we see ourselves here somewhere? If not, consider this:

There are six things that the LORD hates,seven that are an abomination to him:haughty eyes, a lying tongue,and hands that shed innocent blood,a heart that devises wicked plans,feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers. (6:16–19)

We may think we aren't fools until we realize that haughty eyes are walking into someone's home and taking pleasure because we have better taste in décor or because our outfit is more appropriate for the occasion. We may think we don't shed innocent blood until we remember Jesus' words that anger is murder. We may we think we don't stir up trouble unless we realize that we do so by participating in gossip. Each one of us is, in some way, a foolish woman.

But that's okay, because it makes Paul's words real and personal: "God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God" (1 Cor. 1:28-30). Christ is the foolish woman's remedy--our remedy.