Vintage Wisdom - Wisdom Verses Folly

Last night our group reviewed the first 9 chapters of Proverbs with a study called "Wisdom Vs. Folly." The first thing we were asked to do was name a favorite TV or cartoon character that is always messing up, and another who is very clever. My picks were Lucy Ricardo from I Love Lucy, and McGyver. I don't think there's anyone who hasn't laughed at some of Lucy's antics. Her schemes never worked, but boy were they hilarious! McGyver I admired because he could get out of any predicament with just a paper clip and a rubber band. The guy was a genius! Then the question was, what's the difference between the two? Simple: I wouldn't mind being like McGyver, but even though Lucy was funny, I sure wouldn't want to be like her.

We went over the differences between being knowledgeable, wise, and foolish. Knowledge is knowing things. It's what you've learned, thanks to reading, studying, investigating, etc. What you do with that knowledge is what determines whether you're foolish or wise. I think that hit home with us all. One of my precious ladies admitted she'd never really asked for wisdom and therefore didn't consider herself wise. We were able to point out to her that she is indeed very wise, because she is a godly woman who reads the Word daily and obeys God's commands. See, if you have much knowledge but don't use it, it's just wasted space in your brain. Much better to have a little knowledge that is put into action, than have much knowledge that is completely ignored.

So in the end, this is what we determined to be true. Wisdom = not just listening to the Word, but also doing what it says so that we can see the results. Folly = listening, even agreeing, then doing whatever we want. This brings no positive results, only regrets. James 1:22 puts it plainly, "Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."

Want wisdom? You need to do two things:

"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does."

- James 1:5-8

Ask, and believe. That's it. Ask the Lord to give you wisdom and understanding as you read His Word, then believe He's gonna do it. Watch and see what the Lord will do for you!