Wisdom—Folly

Wisdom—Folly

In Proverbs 9:1-12 we read about wisdom’s house, and there is no educational institution like it here on earth. This is the habitation where God’s glory dwells. This house has been built perfectly on seven pillars, and those who are simple and upright and seek wisdom are invited to learn understanding and eat her food there. There we receive true knowledge of everything that enriches us for eternity. Everything else will pass away, but whatever has been built up by God’s wisdom will abide forever.

The five wise virgins became rich and happy through this wisdom. They had forsaken everything else in order to lay hold of the glory of this wisdom that never vanishes. They went into her house to learn to live according to wisdom’s laws. An eternal light was kindled in them, an inner light that radiated from everything they said and did. The spiritual darkness of night around them could not extinguish this clear light.

Wisdom is the greatest glory God can give us. Only in this perfect unity of wisdom can we melt together with the Father and the Son and with each other in an eternal glory.

“Every wise woman builds her house, but the foolish pulls it down with her hands.” Prov. 14:1. Folly can only tear down and destroy. It cannot build up anything that will last for eternity. “O God, You know my foolishness . . . .” Ps. 69:5. He knows our folly and our wisdom based on everything we say or do. “Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser.” Prov. 9:9. “Though you grind a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain, yet his foolishness will not depart from him.” Prov. 27:22. “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise.” Prov. 12:15. It is folly to be self-confident and obstinate. A wise man is humble and receives grace to do everything in the right way. Eccl. 10:10. “With the humble is wisdom.” Prov. 11:2.

What is wisdom? Wisdom is to be merciful, for the merciful shall receive mercy. Matt. 5:7. It is to forgive others their transgressions, because then our heavenly Father will forgive us. Luke 6:14. It is to seek God’s kingdom first, because then everything else will be added to us. Matt. 6:33. It is to keep Jesus’ commandments and teach others to keep them, because then we will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Matt. 5:19. It is to humble yourself, because then God Himself will exalt you. Matt. 23:12. It is to be generous and give richly, because then God will give richly to us. Luke 6:38; 2 Cor. 9:6.

Wisdom is to cast all our cares on Him, because then He will care for us. 1 Pet. 5:7. It means not being a busybody. It is to rejoice in the Lord; for the joy of the Lord is our strength. Neh. 8:10. It is to keep the word of patience, because then we will be freed from the hour of trial that is to come over the whole earth. Rev. 3:10. It is a living faith in God—that He hears us when we pray to Him. 1 John 5:14-15. It is to acknowledge our lack of wisdom and pray for it, without doubting. Jas. 1:5-6. It is to love Jesus by keeping His Word in our hearts and doing it, because then the Father and the Son will dwell in us. John 14:21, 23.

All the Word of God has proceeded from God, who is perfect wisdom. We receive this wisdom by seeking it wholeheartedly in order to live in it to His honor who has given it to us.

“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God.” Rom. 11:33.