PROVERBS 9, 1-6
Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn out its seven pillars. She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has also set her table. She has sent out her maids, and she calls from the highest point of the city. “Let all who are simple come in here!” she says to those who lack judgment. “Come, eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed. Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of understanding….
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
The woman Folly is loud; she is undisciplined and without knowledge. She sits at the door of her house, on a seat at the highest point of the city, calling out to those who pass by, who go straight on their way. “Let all who are simple come in here!” she says to those who lack judgment. “Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious!”
But little do they know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of the grave.
You are invited to a party! In fact, you are invited to two parties! Same day! Which will you attend?
The first party is thrown by a lady called, “Wisdom.” God’s wisdom. Wisdom that leads to eternal life. The second party is thrown by a lady called, “Folly.” The word literally means “Stupid.” Satan offers any stupid idea that comes off the top of his head. The stupider the idea the better. And Satan gets people to swallow his “wisdom,” even though it’s the stupidest idea ever. And Satan’s “wisdom” leads to death.
So, which invitation will you accept? It should be the easiest decision in the world. I mean choosing wisdom or stupidity? Life or death? That’s simple, isn’t it? The sad fact is countless throngs go rushing to Folly’s house! There’s standing room only at the house of Folly! Only a few at the banquet of Wisdom!
So, this morning with both invitations in hand, which one will you choose? GOD’S WISDOM? OR SATAN’S FOLLY?
I
Notice the difference between the way these two ladies prepare for their party?
“Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn out its seven pillars. She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has also set her table. She has sent out her maids, and she calls from the highest point of the city.” Wisdom is busy building a house, preparing a banquet, preparing the finest food, choicest wine, and best table available. She works hard. She spares no expenxe. She wants to make sure everything is perfect and you have the best banquet ever. She sends out her maids with invitations all over the city. And then she her self stands on an elevation calling out, inviting everyone to come to her banquet.
Folly? “The woman Folly is loud; she is undisciplined and without knowledge. She sits in the door of her house, on a seat at the highest point of the city, calling out to those who pass by.” She prepares no meal! She builds no home. She is “without knowledge.” She has nothing to offer. She is lazy! She doesn’t stand on a high elevation inviting people. She sits on a chair in her door way and invites anyone who happen to pass by.
What a difference between God’s Wisdom and Satan’s Stupidity! God created this world and the laws of nature that go along with it. And from the beginning man learned these laws, and harnessed them to make their lives better. They learned how the seasons worked and found out when best to plant and when best to harvest. They learned how to heat and light their homes. They learned how to forge metal to make weapons and tools and even musical instruments. And man is still striving to harness that wisdom from God. And we have accomplished fantastic things. Not only can we make musical instruments and tools and weapons we can travel in three hours which used to take the better part of two days. We can fly in the sky like birds. We can even send a man to the moon and back. Because of the wisdom God has prepared for us.
Satan creates nothing! He destroys. Satan comes up with no wisdom, no new things that are of any value. Satan comes up with lies, foolish and stupid ideas, and gets man to swallow them hook line and sinker. Satan packages his stupid ideas, in glitzy containers, with bright shining lights, using famous people to talk about how great Satan’s ideas are. And people get hooked.
God didn’t create this world, that’s crazy! That’s a fairy tale. No, we evolved from jelly fish in the ocean. And what was the stupidest idea a century and a half ago, is now something you need to believe if you want to be taken as a serious scientist. Or life doesn’t start at conception. That’s ridiculous. That’s Middle Ages superstition. No, that fetus is nothing but a parasite feeding off a woman for nine months, and you can just as easy get rid of it, like you would get rid of an infected appendix. And what was the stupidest idea a century ago, is now a fact of life and accepted by all the elite and powerful people.
But God has given another type of wisdom, a wisdom you’ll never find in nature or the natural laws of the universe. It’s found only in the Bible. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy one is understanding,” Not only did God create laws that make our world safe and comfortable. God also made a promise for our eternal life. Because man has sinned, he is no longer acceptable to God. But because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, God has made a way for man to become accepted by God. Believing in Jesus, believing in the sacrifice He made for us, gives us eternal life. In fact, that is the only way to find eternal life. And this wisdom cost God plenty to accomplish! Of course, Satan, comes up with another stupid idea. You don’t need God! God is an antiquated idea made up for ignorant people in the Middle Ages. We have our own intelligence. We have our own wisdom. We don’t need God. We can save ourselves.
So, there’s you’ve got it. GOD’S WISDOM? AND SATAN’S FOLLY!”
II
Each of these ladies, gave the exact same invitation. “Let all who are simple come in here she says to those who lack judgment.” Each of them invites two types of people.
“Let all who are simple come in here.” The word literally means, “to be wide open,” and then comes to mean to be “open to suggestions, to be easily persuaded into either good or bad things.” Like being naïve, or gullible. Most of us would not like to labeled “simple,” or “gullible.” We like to think that we have been around the block a couple of times, we have wisdom and experience. We don’t fall for those foolish things. And yet, how many times do we become gullible? How many times can we be persuaded to do foolish things?
The second group are “those who lack judgment.” People who don’t have the wisdom, or the courage, or the judgment they need.” Again, we like to think that because we have been Christians for as long as we have, that we have the judgment and the wisdom and the common sense, to determine what is right and wrong. But in reality? Yet, how often haven’t we been persuaded to stop in at Folly’s house? Sometimes, because we didn’t know what was happening! Sometimes, even though we knew exactly what was going on, and went anyway! Yes, sometimes, we can be one who “lacks judgment.” So, yes, this invitation is for us too.
But now, both Wisdom and Folly are inviting the same people with the same words. How can I determine which one to follow, which house to enter? Well, Wisdom says, “Come, eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed. Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of understanding.” Wisdom offers you a banquet, food your spirit needs to grow in faith, and in understanding of God. The wisdom she offers is “knowledge of the Holy one.” She tells us about the true God. And what He has done. Not just creating this world and giving us a fantastic place to live and enjoy all sorts of blessings throughout our life. But a God who loved you so much, He rescued you from eternal damnation by sacrificing His son, Jesus on the cross for your sins. Not just a God who has all power and might. But a God who has love, compassion, and grace for sinners like us, who will cover us with the blood of Jesus, and will welcome us home to Heaven. A God who gives us everything we need, not just for this life, but for the life to come as well.
What does Folly offer? “Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious.” Folly doesn’t teach you anything about God, except how to dismiss Him and hide from him. Folly invites us to enjoy sin and wickedness in secret with the guarantee that no one will ever find out.
And one final difference between what Wisdom offers and what Folly offers. Wisdom says, “Come eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed. Leave your simple ways and you will live.” When it comes to the house that Folly invites you to enter. “But little do they know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depts of the grave.” Wisdom offers you a feast of the greatest food you ever tasted. Wisdom offers you food that will not just help your body survive, but will give eternal life to your soul. Folly offers nothing at all. No food! No drink! Nothing that will help your body or your soul. Oh, she advertises the most exciting time you’ll ever have, joys and pleasures galore! She promises you the time of your life. But she gives you nothing! Nothing but broken promises, guilt, misery, pain, separation from God, and death. Those are the hosts for those parties you’ve been invited to.
When we were children, if someone asked us to go somewhere, or to do something, we’d say, “I’ve got to check with Mom and Dad to get their permission, to make sure it’s OK!” Now that we are older and more mature, we don’t need to get anyone’s permission. We can do whatever we please! We can determine what is good for us and what is not!
That may work for a lot of decisions we need to make. But when it comes time to determine where our souls will feast, and what party we will attend, I would encourage you to act like children, like those who are “simple,” gullible, and lacking of understanding. Because when it comes to Satan's temptations, we are the "simple," the gullible, and those lacking understanding. So, check with your Father to see whether is OK or not. I know my advice may not sound really mature, telling you need to get permission. But it may keep you from going into Folly’s house for a meal that will kill you.
You are invited to a party! In fact, you are invited to two parties. One from Wisdom! One from Stupidity! Which one will you accept? GOD’S WISDOM? OR SATAN FOLLY?” My advice? Before you choose, simply say, “Let me talk to my Father first! See what He has to say!”
