Proverbs 1:22. “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?
The opposite of being wise is being a fool. There are many ways to be a fool. Proverbs will introduce us to several categories. We can see three of them right here in today’s verse. The simple. The classic fool. The scoffer.
The simple person is naïve, and easily enticed. We are all born simple. Every child is simple, and thus foolish. The problem is that many of us love being simple, even as adults. We love acting childish, selfish, drinking spiritual milk when we should be eating spiritual meat. The Christian that still acts simple will be easily drawn away to the latest and greatest, most exciting form of spirituality, walking by sight and not by faith. Like we said yesterday, they fail to see their choices as a path. They avoid suffering and complain when things don’t go their way.
The classic fool is stubborn. The pride of life has hardened them toward God. This fool knows what is right but says, who cares. They are unsettled, illogical at times, strong willed, argumentative, and even perverse. Christians acting like fools won’t submit, won’t listen, won’t gather and won’t repent.
The scoffer is the worst kind of fool. This person is arrogant and insulting, disdains authority, won’t listen to any kind of rebuke, refuses to change, and causes all kinds of strife and disunity. They are vengeful, self-serving, and critical of everything, including God. Deep, authentic relationships have become nearly impossible for them. Christians who act like scoffers won’t just stop attending church, they want to destroy the church with their biting and devouring behavior.
Yes, we all begin as simple, but when we continue being simple (How long) we quickly graduate into the far more dangerous categories of fool and scoffer. Possibly without even realizing it we are living more and more each day as a Christian fool. Doing whatever we want. Disdaining gratitude. Forsaking the gathering. Controlling our own life. Refusing to submit to other believers. Holding grudges. Passively punishing your enemies. Showing off. Arguing. Complaining. Dividing. On and on we could go.
But in Christ, fool is no longer our identity. We are wise when we are in him. He IS wisdom. Therefore, wisdom lives in us. She has made her home in us. Everything we need to overcome simplicity, foolishness, and scoffing dwells in our hearts. The forgiveness, the hope, the peace, the joy of union with Christ can overcome any and all foolishness that seeks to control our hearts when we let faith replace foolishness.
Christian, you have a question to answer right now. How long will you remain simple? How long will you delight in scoffing? How long will you hate knowledge? How soon and how often will you turn to the cross as your source of wisdom, and to Christ as your delight?
You: What kind of fool do you act like? Simple? Classic? Scoffer?
You in Christ: In Christ fool is NOT your identity, wise is. How can trusting this identity in Christ allow you to forsake foolish and selfish ways, and embrace the wisdom of the cross?
Christ in you: Is there an area of foolishness in your life that you can submit to Christ right now?
Pray: Father, I don’t want to be a fool. I want to live life your way. Help me to trust what Christ has done for me over what I can do for myself. Amen.
To Live is Christ 