Proverbs 15:21 "Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly."
What we do in our spare time reveals a lot about us. What we think about doing when we're stuck doing what we don't want to be doing reveals a lot about us. While we all do things that we don't want to do, the bulk of our life is spent pursuing that which makes us happy. This begins early in life and continues until the end of life. Children rarely go to school because they love to learn. Most kids love getting out of school because they love to play games, sports and be with their friends. The majority of working adults don't go to work because they love to work, although plenty of people enjoy their occupation and even the satisfaction of success. The majority of working adults love getting out of work because they have other activities and ambitions that bring them much more joy.
While there are those who wake up in the morning thrilled to go to school or to go to work, that's not the norm. While there are those who can't wait to do household chores or property maintenance, that's not typical. We all have that thing or those things that we love to do. We all have that thing or those things that we can't wait to do. We think about it when we're at work. We dream about it when we're in bed. We plan it when we're driving. We imagine it when we're listening to a lecture or a sermon. These things are the things that get us up in the morning and the things that keep us going in life. For some of us, it's worship. For others of us, it's reading. For some, it's traveling. For others, it's sleeping. The list of things that bring us joy is never-ending and includes watching sports or movies, farming, decorating, shopping, working on cars, fishing, golfing, hunting, eating, socializing, camping, gaming, having children, raising a family, building furniture, helping people, raising animals, running, lifting, exercising, cooking, studying, investing, discipling, retiring and so much more. All of us have something that brings us great joy. Whatever it is, we pursue it more than anything. Whatever it is, we think about it more than anything. Whatever it is, we love life the most when we get to experience it.
For the fool, folly is that thing. For the person without wisdom, making a moral mess is what he thinks about when working. For the person without wisdom, getting drunk is what he thinks about when waking up in the morning. For the man without wisdom, committing fornication or adultery is what he dreams about. For the woman without wisdom, seducing a man or lying to a woman is what she thinks about when she's listening to a lecture or a sermon. For the person without wisdom, getting rich at the casino or stealing from the wealthy is what he thinks about while at work. For the fool, doing nothing and being lazy is the joy of his life. Folly is the highlight of a fool's life. Without wisdom, we will find things harmful to us and to those around us as the things that bring us the most joy.
Wisdom doesn't just direct our minds - it directs our feelings. It doesn't just guide our decisions - it guides our desires. Wisdom does more than enlighten and educate us - it changes us. Wisdom is a virtue that puts all earthly pursuits in moral perspective. It writes a list of pros and cons for each of our desires, ambitions and pursuits. It exposes the long-term dangers that come with short-term pleasures. It provides the risk assessment for that which naturally brings us joy. It offers us a thorough analysis about everything we might enjoy so that we might choose the right things or activities to enjoy. Wisdom is the nutritionist that takes the joy out of eating unhealthy foods. It is the counselor that takes the joy out of having an affair. It is the financial advisor that takes the joy out of buying expensive houses and cars. Wisdom is the guidance counselor that takes the joy out of skipping class or cheating on the test. It is the coach that takes the joy out of wasting time doing nothing when you should be training and working hard. Wisdom helps us form good joys in life. It is the virtue that takes the joy out of folly and puts it into being holy.
Fools find no joy in going to church, in reading the Bible, in denying worldly pleasure, in giving to the poor or to the Lord. Fools find no joy in obeying the rules and following the law. They find no joy in being sober or in being faithful to their spouse when another enticing opportunity avails itself. They lack the virtue that helps them see how much more enjoyable it is to do right. They can't see beyond the initial loss of pleasure. They can't see the long-term benefits of walking uprightly. They can't see the long-term satisfaction and peace that comes with doing right. Wisdom brings understanding and a man of understanding walks uprightly because it is enjoyable to walk that way. Wisdom helps a person see the benefit of doing right and that perspective makes doing right joyful. Those in life who find true joy in being faithful to their spouse, in going to church, in reading their Bible, in paying their taxes, in giving to the Lord, in treating people kindly and mercifully, in working hard and in praising God are those who have wisdom.
If we don't find joy in doing right and in being good, we lack wisdom. If we don't see following the rules and submitting to authorities as a joyful duty, we lack wisdom. If we don't look forward to prayer, Bible-reading or worship, we lack wisdom. If we don't find joy in being kind to those who aren't kind to us, we lack wisdom. What we often blame on apathy, we should blame on foolishness. What we often blame on a lack of passion for God, we should blame on a lack of wisdom in us. What we find to be the joy of our lives reveals whether or not we possess wisdom. What we find to make us the happiest reveals if we have wisdom or not. What we're pursuing as the joy of our life is a true indicator of what role wisdom is playing in our life. In light of this truth, what do you think about doing when you're stuck doing what you don't want to be doing? What do you do in your spare time? What do you want to do more than anything else in life? What is the joy of your life?
While there are those who wake up in the morning thrilled to go to school or to go to work, that's not the norm. While there are those who can't wait to do household chores or property maintenance, that's not typical. We all have that thing or those things that we love to do. We all have that thing or those things that we can't wait to do. We think about it when we're at work. We dream about it when we're in bed. We plan it when we're driving. We imagine it when we're listening to a lecture or a sermon. These things are the things that get us up in the morning and the things that keep us going in life. For some of us, it's worship. For others of us, it's reading. For some, it's traveling. For others, it's sleeping. The list of things that bring us joy is never-ending and includes watching sports or movies, farming, decorating, shopping, working on cars, fishing, golfing, hunting, eating, socializing, camping, gaming, having children, raising a family, building furniture, helping people, raising animals, running, lifting, exercising, cooking, studying, investing, discipling, retiring and so much more. All of us have something that brings us great joy. Whatever it is, we pursue it more than anything. Whatever it is, we think about it more than anything. Whatever it is, we love life the most when we get to experience it.
For the fool, folly is that thing. For the person without wisdom, making a moral mess is what he thinks about when working. For the person without wisdom, getting drunk is what he thinks about when waking up in the morning. For the man without wisdom, committing fornication or adultery is what he dreams about. For the woman without wisdom, seducing a man or lying to a woman is what she thinks about when she's listening to a lecture or a sermon. For the person without wisdom, getting rich at the casino or stealing from the wealthy is what he thinks about while at work. For the fool, doing nothing and being lazy is the joy of his life. Folly is the highlight of a fool's life. Without wisdom, we will find things harmful to us and to those around us as the things that bring us the most joy.
Wisdom doesn't just direct our minds - it directs our feelings. It doesn't just guide our decisions - it guides our desires. Wisdom does more than enlighten and educate us - it changes us. Wisdom is a virtue that puts all earthly pursuits in moral perspective. It writes a list of pros and cons for each of our desires, ambitions and pursuits. It exposes the long-term dangers that come with short-term pleasures. It provides the risk assessment for that which naturally brings us joy. It offers us a thorough analysis about everything we might enjoy so that we might choose the right things or activities to enjoy. Wisdom is the nutritionist that takes the joy out of eating unhealthy foods. It is the counselor that takes the joy out of having an affair. It is the financial advisor that takes the joy out of buying expensive houses and cars. Wisdom is the guidance counselor that takes the joy out of skipping class or cheating on the test. It is the coach that takes the joy out of wasting time doing nothing when you should be training and working hard. Wisdom helps us form good joys in life. It is the virtue that takes the joy out of folly and puts it into being holy.
Fools find no joy in going to church, in reading the Bible, in denying worldly pleasure, in giving to the poor or to the Lord. Fools find no joy in obeying the rules and following the law. They find no joy in being sober or in being faithful to their spouse when another enticing opportunity avails itself. They lack the virtue that helps them see how much more enjoyable it is to do right. They can't see beyond the initial loss of pleasure. They can't see the long-term benefits of walking uprightly. They can't see the long-term satisfaction and peace that comes with doing right. Wisdom brings understanding and a man of understanding walks uprightly because it is enjoyable to walk that way. Wisdom helps a person see the benefit of doing right and that perspective makes doing right joyful. Those in life who find true joy in being faithful to their spouse, in going to church, in reading their Bible, in paying their taxes, in giving to the Lord, in treating people kindly and mercifully, in working hard and in praising God are those who have wisdom.
If we don't find joy in doing right and in being good, we lack wisdom. If we don't see following the rules and submitting to authorities as a joyful duty, we lack wisdom. If we don't look forward to prayer, Bible-reading or worship, we lack wisdom. If we don't find joy in being kind to those who aren't kind to us, we lack wisdom. What we often blame on apathy, we should blame on foolishness. What we often blame on a lack of passion for God, we should blame on a lack of wisdom in us. What we find to be the joy of our lives reveals whether or not we possess wisdom. What we find to make us the happiest reveals if we have wisdom or not. What we're pursuing as the joy of our life is a true indicator of what role wisdom is playing in our life. In light of this truth, what do you think about doing when you're stuck doing what you don't want to be doing? What do you do in your spare time? What do you want to do more than anything else in life? What is the joy of your life?
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