confessing foolishness leads to wisdom
Two Invitations, One Daily Choice
Proverbs 9 paints a vivid picture: two women—Lady Wisdom and Lady Folly—each hosting a feast, each calling out to the same audience: the simple, the unformed, the easily influenced. Their messages, however, couldn’t be more different.
Lady Folly whispers seductive lies: "Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant." She appeals to desire, secrecy, and short-term satisfaction. Her path feels easy, but it leads to destruction.
Lady Wisdom, on the other hand, calls us to something deeper: “Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed. Leave your simple ways and live.” Her way costs more up front—honesty, humility, and discipline—but it leads to life.
The point? Every day, we choose which invitation to accept. Not once. Not occasionally. But daily. Wisdom and foolishness are not final destinations—they're ways of walking.
The Nature of Foolishness: Simple-Mindedness
Scripture defines a fool not as someone unintelligent, but someone immature, naive, and unstable. A fool listens without discernment to the wrong voices:
The voice within: pride, desire, insecurity.
The voice around: cultural norms, peer pressure, false narratives.
The voice below: the Enemy’s lies, shame, and isolation.
And the scariest part? The fool doesn’t even know they’re being influenced. They believe they are wise. They resist correction and lash out when challenged.
But wisdom starts when we can say: “Maybe I don’t see everything clearly. Maybe I need help.”
The Confession of Foolishness: Naming Our Idols
Foolishness, at its root, is idolatry. It’s not just about making mistakes—it’s about misplaced trust.
Lady Folly’s promises—whether of forbidden pleasure or easy success—appeal to our longing for control and comfort. But they never deliver what they promise. We chase satisfaction and end up empty.
Confessing our foolishness isn’t simply admitting wrong behavior. It’s naming the deeper issue: we’ve trusted things—sex, money, reputation, our own understanding—more than we’ve trusted God.
Confession is the turning point. It doesn’t push us away from God; it’s the bridge back to Him.
The Hope for Fools: Jesus, Our Wisdom
Here’s the good news: wisdom doesn’t come to those who have it all figured out. It comes to those who admit they don’t.
Jesus doesn’t wait for us to be wise. He became wisdom for us. He took on our shame and brokenness. He gave His life so we could walk in His.
In Him, we find a meal that isn’t stolen or secret—but freely given. A new way to live. A new foundation to build on.
Reflection Questions:
Where are you tempted to listen to the “voice within, around, or below” instead of the voice of Christ?
What “stolen water” or “secret bread” are you tempted to chase right now?
When was the last time you confessed not just your actions, but the false things you’ve trusted more than God?
How can you regularly return to Lady Wisdom’s table—through prayer, Scripture, or community?
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