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Wisdom Calls

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Wisdom calls aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the public squares; at the head of the noisy street she cries out, in the gateways of the city she makes her speech: “How long will you simple ones love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge? If you had responded to my rebuke, I would have poured out my heart to you and made my thoughts known to you. 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; but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.” – Proverbs 1:20-33

I find this personification an interesting way of viewing the consequences of ignoring God’s wisdom in our lives.  As wisdom speaks, you can see clearly how those people who choose to ignore it experience struggles, feel fear and panic, and are met with disasters caused in most cases by the work of their own hands.  And despite the world’s attempts to remove consequences from actions, God is still in control.  So, while a wicked or foolish man may ignore the calling of the Lord and still appear to succeed for a while, the final destination will ultimately be disaster, both temporally and eternally.

But while wisdom’s words speak of one truth, there is another truth that must also be shared.  It is true that we would be wise to seek God’s wisdom in our lives each day, but as sinners we sometimes fall short.  How wonderful it is for us to also know that while our ability to operate in wisdom is sometimes compromised, God’s love knows no limits.  Through the death and resurrection of Christ, our lives can truly be transformed.  We still strive to seek God’s wisdom in all things, but one place in which we display our wisdom most importantly is in our desire to see the will of God in our lives and to seek forgiveness in His grace when we go astray.  Living in love doesn’t give us a free pass to behave badly; wisdom would certainly speak against that.  But it is God’s ultimate desire to be in the company of those whom He dearly loves; you, me, and all of mankind.

It is my prayer that you will live your life today, and every day, as a celebration of the gifts given to you by our loving Heavenly Father.  Fill your heart with His love, your mouth with His Word, and your mind with the wisdom that only comes from Him.

 

Devotion by Richard Schumacher

Senior Director of Operations