Choose Wisely (part 1): “The Wise and the Fool”
Pastor Scott Maurer – April 3, 2016
Proverbs 1:1-2:5
Verses 1:1-7 – Proverbs are object lessons that help us to “choose wisely”
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Proverbs is written so that people can learn how to learn from others who are wiser (this is different
from having to learn from our own mistakes). Christians are called to form judgments without being
judgmental and self-righteous. These judgments should be righteous, just, and equitable. The
development of wisdom helps Christians make righteous, just, and fair judgments.
Proverbs is directed to the “simple” (i.e. the naïve/gullible), so they will become more cautious and
think things through before acting. It is directed to “the youth” in order to give them knowledge and
life direction, and pass on the lessons of older people. It is also directed to “the wise” so that they can
learn to become wiser and better prepared to help others develop and apply godly wisdom.
The “fear of the Lord” is the ultimate source of wisdom and knowledge. “Fear of the Lord” means
humility before God (i.e. the belief that God is there and can teach us something). This attitude of our
heart is necessary before we will receive any kind of godly wisdom. Wisdom is not separate from God;
it comes from God. It’s not something that God “gets,” it is something that God is. God has woven
wisdom into the fabric of His creation, so we need to learn how to find and apply it – this starts with a
humility before God.
Verses 1:8-19 – an example of a temptation facing a youth (easy money!)
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Note that wisdom comes from BOTH parents – each has responsibility and important wisdom to share.
The temptation of “easy money” is a temptation of everyone, but especially for youth. Young people
often look around at what people who are further down the road in life have and they want it now.
These things include money, independence, power, and respect. These things can tempt them to
pursue illegal activities.
A very common and important theme in Proverbs is that something foolish SEEMS attractive.
Ironically, the thing that seems attractive ultimately destroys the one who pursues it.
Verses 1:20-33 – The Carrot and the Stick
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Wisdom is personified as a woman out in the marketplace IMPLORING (i.e. begging) people to listen
to her. The writer is making the point that facing the temptation to make poor choices is like being on
a busy street with all sorts of noise that makes it hard to hear wisdom’s voice. Temptation comes from
“the world,” “the flesh,” and “the devil.” “The world” is any message that comes from our culture that
is inconsistent with God’s wisdom. “The flesh” is our own tendencies to be attracted to ungodly things.
“The devil” is an evil being (along with other demons) who try to tempt us to make poor choices.
Proverbs speaks of three types of foolish people. “Simple Ones” are people who not very interested
in gaining wisdom. They are easily swayed, gullible, and don’t like to think for themselves. “Fools” are
people who think they know better than everyone else. They don’t like to listen to wise counsel and
are generally unteachable. “Scoffers (or Mockers)” are people who despise God and His wisdom (as
found in the Bible and personified in Jesus). They consider themselves to be “freethinkers” and love to
criticize God and His followers.
To teach us wisdom, God offers a “carrot” – He promises that if we find ourselves heading toward
something foolish and are warned (e.g. by conscience, Holy Spirit, another person, study of Bible, etc.)
and we turn away from foolish choices, God will comfort us and make us wiser.
To teach us wisdom, God also warns us that He will use a “stick” – There are two paths to wisdom:
“the path of humility” (i.e. the “fear of God” which enables us to learn things without pain); “the path
of pain” (i.e. God gives us an “emotional memory” of the consequences of a bad choice so that we
don’t want to make that bad choice again). If we reject the path of humility and take the path of pain,
we may find that God does not seem to listen when we cry for help. God’s apparent silence is not
because He does not love us (He does!). Rather, it’s because God knows that we might need to
experience a lot more pain in order to really break and learn (i.e. develop sufficient emotional
memory). Otherwise, if we get an easy fix, we may “forget” (i.e. lose that emotional memory) and go
right back to our ways.
Verses 2:1-5 – Call to actively pursue wisdom and how to do it
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V. 1 – When wisdom is made available to us (e.g. the Bible, a book, a lecture, a sermon, good advice,
mentoring), we should not be apathetic. Rather, we should receive it as a great treasure.
V. 2 – We should actively engage with this wisdom, knowing that our heart is naturally going to want to
tune out. We should humble ourselves and make our hearts good soil for wisdom to take root.
V. 3 – We should cry out to God directly for wisdom. But we should also deliberately ask counsel of
others who are a little further along in life, seek mentoring, consult a person with some godly wisdom.
V. 4 – Studying Proverbs is good way to do develop wisdom, as is reading the entire Bible – but this
takes work. People make an effort to find other sources of “wisdom” – why not wisdom of God?
V. 5 – There is great reward in seeking wisdom. Sadly, very few people really appreciate the wisdom of
God. They take the Scripture as mere “suggestions.” But when we have a deep reverence for God’s
Word, then we are able to start to think as God thinks – with His wisdom and knowledge!
Wisdom and the Gospel
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All of us have made foolish choices and have suffered for them. If we simply harbor guilt for these
choices, we do not embrace the Gospel and we are unable to warn others about the lessons we’ve
learned. If we take these bad choices to the cross, however, we understand that Jesus paid for those
poor choices and wants us to learn from them. Out of this sense of God’s forgiveness, we can then
start making good choices and more openly help others learn from our mistakes.
LIFEGROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. For what purpose is the Book of Proverbs written and to whom is it directed? Who should read it?
2. What does it mean to say: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of all knowledge”? Do you agree with
this? Why or why not?
3. Why do you think that youth are especially vulnerable to the temptation of “easy money”? Can you think of
some ways this temptation still temps people, even as they grow older? Why do you think this is?
4. Can you think of anything that seems attractive to us, but that ultimately harms us? Why is Proverbs
so concerned that we understand this principle? (Take a look Proverbs 14:12 or 16:25)
5. Why do you think that the writer describes Wisdom as a women out in the public marketplace who has
to beg people to listen to her? Why must she speak so dramatically and forcefully? Why do you think
Proverbs uses such colorful language (e.g. 1:15-19, 26-27)? What can this tell us about how to read it?
6. What are the three types of foolish people Proverbs describes? Do you know anyone like this?
7. Why do you think God uses a carrot and a stick to teach us wisdom? Discuss that nature of the carrot and the
nature of the stick. Have you ever experienced either? Which works more effectively to teach you wisdom?
8. Discuss each of the active verbs in chapter 2:1-4. Name some specific examples in daily life of how we can
actively pursue wisdom. How well are you actively engaging in these actions? Can you identify some specific
things you can do to more actively pursue wisdom? What is the reward? (see verse 2:5)
9. How can others benefit if we take our foolish choices to the cross as opposed to merely harboring guilt?