Wisdom and Folly 

Scripture Reading: Proverbs 9.

Memory Verse: "Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly as far as light excelleth darkness." Ecclesiastes 2:13.

Weekly Reading: Proverbs 22-23.

Introduction: The Bible says that sin is passed down from generation to generation at the time of conception, not the point of birth (Ps. 51:5). Even before man is born, he is already under the bondage of sin and his inner nature is contrary to the way of the Lord. In John 3:18, Jesus made it clear to Nicodemus that man is lost. Unless we turn to Jesus and believe on Him, we are utterly lost! The principle we must understand is that we need do nothing to be lost. We are already lost. The only way to be saved is to come through the door . . . Jesus Christ . . . to the Father. To possess the lifestyle of folly, we need do nothing. We are conceived in folly. We are shaped in folly. But to build the lifestyle of wisdom, it takes much hard work in the form of submitting ourselves to Jesus, and denying ourselves, and taking up our cross and following Him.
  We have already read in previous lessons that wisdom is the principle thing. It is number one! Jesus is also number one! Jesus is wisdom. In Jesus all wisdom exists. We do not have true wisdom without having Jesus. Yet many times we make a strange distinction between the person of Jesus and the wisdom of the word of God. We say at times we want more of Jesus, but we don't want more of the word. Many Christians approach the wisdom of God's word like it is a bad tasting medicine. They take it because it's necessary for them to find the answer to their current problem. Others treat the word like a bowl of cereal. It's just too dry and boring to eat unless you pour a lot of sugar and milk on it, and then slice a banana over the top of it. It is very unusual to find people who love God's word like dessert. The instructions, corrections, admonitions, doctrines, reproofs, promises, commands, and benefits of the Bible are sweet to our soul. It's hard to understand this at times, because the Bible is also death to our flesh.

Questions For Study:

1. What quality does Jesus say we have if we hear and follow His sayings? Matthew 7:24.

2. What characteristics does wisdom that is in Jesus Christ have? James 3:17.

3. Which would be better to have in your defense: one wise man or ten karate champions? Ecclesiastes 7:19.

4. Can wisdom protect us? Luke 21:15.

5. How much can a little foolishness harm a prudent man? Ecclesiastes 10:1.

6. What are characteristics of a life lived in folly? Psalms 53:1; Proverbs 10:18; 14:9; 15:5; 18:6; 20:3; 28:6; Jeremiah 17:11; Luke 11:39,40.

7. Can a foolish man hide his folly? Ecclesiastes 10:3; Proverbs 15:2.

8. How can we avoid folly and get wisdom? James 1:5.

9. Who controls wisdom and in whom is wisdom hid? Daniel 2:20; Colossians 2:3.