Wisdom and foolishness are evident in their consequences if not before. The foolishness of giving a three-year old open cans of paint is apparent enough (usually) to keep it from happening. The foolishness of pouring gasoline into a diesel fuel tank may not be realized until after the fact. Likewise, the wisdom of consistently living in integrity day by day may not be understood until a family, a business–or a nation–collapses without it.
The Bible often draws a contrast between wisdom and foolishness. Isaiah illustrates the folly of worshiping an idol. He makes the point that a craftsman takes a piece of wood and uses part of it to build a fire for warmth, and then shapes the rest into an idol to worship. It is foolish on multiple levels. It is God Himself who provided the tree to be harvested. It is God who created the craftsman and gave him the skill to make anything from the wood. The wooden idol is inanimate and powerless to do anything for the one who worships it. (Isaiah 44)
The prophet Elijah demonstrated the foolishness of following worthless idols in a showdown against 850 prophets of the false gods Baal and Asherah, at Mt Carmel. Two altars were set up, and pieces of a bull arranged atop each. Elijah said the God who answers with fire is God. The false prophets pleaded before an assembly of Israelites for their god to answer. Nothing. Silence. After hours of their useless calling, Elijah taunted them–maybe their god was asleep, or on vacation.
When it was clear to everyone that there would be no response from an impotent god, Elijah raised the stakes. He asked that the bull he laid out, and the wood underneath be thoroughly doused with water, three times. The water ran over the bull and the wood and filled the trench surrounding the altar. Then Elijah said, “O Lord, . . . answer me that this people may know that you, O Lord, are God.”
Fire fell from heaven and consumed the bull and the wood and licked up all the water. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, “The Lord, he is God. The Lord, he is God.” (See 1 Kings 18)
It may be easy to see the contrast between wisdom and foolishness in such examples, but what about us? Where do we look for help? Where do we look for security? Is our confidence in our education, or the God who enabled us to learn and provided opportunities to do so? Is it in our job, our health, our retirement savings, or the God who sovereignly controls all of it? Where do we go for truth? The internet? It is foolish to depend on anything to provide what only God can give.
Wisdom comes from God. He promises to give generously to all who turn to Him and ask for it. Wisdom comes to us by His Word and by His Spirit. The fool says in his heart there is no God. Foolishness is thinking we can do life without Him.
An idol, or false god can be anything that pushes God from His rightful place. He has all authority. He determines what is true or false. He is our security.
God is the source of all wisdom. Looking anywhere else is foolishness.
“Keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.” 1 John 5:21 NLT
What are your thoughts? Please leave a comment below.
Blessings,
Phyllis
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
Copyright 2023 Phyllis L. Farringer
You have such an amazing way of opening my eyes to things I had not put together but always knew. I always knew my career was guided and directed by God, but I didn’t always follow his ways. He still never forsook me and I eventually came back to Him where I belong. “Is our confidence in our education, or the God who enabled us to learn and provided opportunities to do so? Is it in our job,”, When I read this, it stopped me dead in my tracks and I cried and prayed and thanked the Lord for his blessings on me when I least deserved them!
Thank you Phyllis! Keep the wonderful insights coming. We all need them!
Thank you, Sherri. I am glad it spoke to you.