Two-minute read.
Folly, in its original Hebrew, means “stupidity, insolence, with a possible implication of rebellion.”[1] An image of a woman I encountered years ago comes to mind. In D.C. at the post office, waiting in line, she saw me look at her and immediately began ranting at me for daring to glimpse her way. I didn’t engage, averting my eyes and apologizing for disturbing her. Because I didn’t rise to the occasion, she found another innocent victim to attack.
Another incident occurred in New Orleans on a work trip. Walking to lunch with colleagues, a woman followed us, yelling crazy, unintelligible things at us. Her actions unnerved me and left an indelible mark on my memories.
Foolish people crave attention, and if we give it to them, it fuels the flame of their rebellious nature. Instead of having a teachable spirit, they dig their heels into whatever position they take, not wanting to admit their folly. Avoiding folly means not engaging, but instead praying for God to give them eyes to see and ears to hear the error of their ways.
Seeking divine wisdom helps us avoid folly and its obnoxious call. Keeping the Son in your eyes gives you discernment, making it easy to spot those who would lead you astray. Unlike the women I mentioned above, not all folly comes in such outspoken ways; sometimes it comes as a whisper that seems appealing.
The counterpart to wisdom, folly attempts to appeal to the naïve and lure them into its web. Without biblical wisdom found in Proverbs, folly tries to create chaos, stealing peace and destroying the joy found in the Lord. Don’t listen to folly’s call; instead, find the Savior’s peace by following Him.
Journal Question:
How have you experienced folly’s call in your life?
In what ways do you avoid folly?
How can you help others avoid folly’s call?
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for helping us identify folly and listen to her call. Please give us the tools we need to avoid foolishness and not succumb to its temptation. Let us live in Your peace that surpasses all understanding.
IJNIP. Amen
[1]https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%209%3A13&version=NIV&tab=interlinear
