Tuesday - Proverbs 1 - Uncommon Sense

G

od knows wisdom and wisdom knows God.  They are the same age (Proverbs 8:22-23).  And, they always agree.  However, God is a person and wisdom is not.  Wisdom is a body of truth, so to speak; a set of facts that are simultaneously generous and trustworthy as well as being immovable and insensitive.  Wisdom is an inanimate view of reality.  It is rigid and merciless.  While the use of wisdom will include a generous broadcast of mercy and love, those of us who lack wisdom will find negative consequences that greatly supersede our fears.  It is indeed “the principal thing..." (Prov. 4:7).

Wisdom is of prime importance and fearing God is the way to find it (Proverbs 1:7, 9:10 & James 1:5).  This book (Proverbs) is full of wise sayings that should help us onward in our quest to live wisely, godly and successfully... rather than foolishly, selfishly and evilly.

There are a relatively small number of primary themes and central characters in Proverbs.  One of the most prominent characters is the simple man.  A simple man might be described as inexperienced, naive, uneducated, uninstructed and therefore in danger.  God has never placed a premium on ignorance.  Ignorance might be blissful, but it can also be fatal.  Of course, we are all born as absolute simpletons, needing constant care and protection... knowing nothing except the most basic of instincts.  This relatively innocent and helpless state may be beautiful at first, but it is hardly appealing if it continues to prevail. 

According to Solomon, the greatest obstruction to wisdom is evil.  Even an individual with little intelligence can be wise if he is willing to be righteous.  Wisdom is not so much about the quantity of knowledge you have as it is about the application of that knowledge.  Solomon warns anyone who aspires to wisdom to do several things.  Start up the path of wisdom by refusing to follow sinners, by obeying one's parents and by refusing to worship money (Proverbs 1:19).

Now suddenly, things are coming into focus here.  Common sense should be the equivalent of wisdom, but it turns out that common sense is not as common as we might imagine.  Wisdom is actually rare.  Common sense is actually uncommon sense.  It might be nearly universal in presence, but it is an endangered species in action because most of us commonly ignore it (Proverbs 1:24).  Such foolishness is deadly.  Easy Street feels so friendly, but death lurks in the shadow of every doorway there (Proverbs 1:32).