Buying Wisdom
Proverbs 17:16
Why should a fool have money in his hand to buy wisdom
when he has no sense?
Even if wisdom could be bought, it still would do the fool no good. But isn’t wisdom exactly what a fool needs? True, but the fool’s problem is that he does not know what to do with wisdom even when given to him.
He may obtain wisdom now. He may turn to a wise counselor now and receive the fruit of wisdom. He may open the Word of God now, the greatest source of wisdom. But his foolish mind will reject the wisdom or else twist it into foolishness.
The fool does not need to buy wisdom. He needs to be transformed by wisdom. How then can he be transformed? That is the work of the Holy Spirit. The wisest of counselors cannot change the foolish mind. At best the wise person can manage the fool. He can perhaps keep the fool from causing harm. But he cannot make the fool become wise. Only the Holy Spirit can do that kind of work.
Be wary of the fool, yet treat him with the love of Christ. Do what you can to alleviate the effects of his folly on others and himself. But do not reason with him as you would another rational mind. And do not give to him responsibility, such as the possession of money, that he will only use for harm.
The best you can do (which is truly the best we should do) is to pray for him. Pray for the work of the Spirit in him. And love him with the love of Christ, a love that seeks his good. We were all fools when it came to knowledge of God and redemption. Only the Spirit working in us turned us away from folly to the wisdom of the Gospel. Only the love of God pierced through our darkness.
Why should a fool have money in his hand to buy wisdom
when he has no sense?
Even if wisdom could be bought, it still would do the fool no good. But isn’t wisdom exactly what a fool needs? True, but the fool’s problem is that he does not know what to do with wisdom even when given to him.
He may obtain wisdom now. He may turn to a wise counselor now and receive the fruit of wisdom. He may open the Word of God now, the greatest source of wisdom. But his foolish mind will reject the wisdom or else twist it into foolishness.
The fool does not need to buy wisdom. He needs to be transformed by wisdom. How then can he be transformed? That is the work of the Holy Spirit. The wisest of counselors cannot change the foolish mind. At best the wise person can manage the fool. He can perhaps keep the fool from causing harm. But he cannot make the fool become wise. Only the Holy Spirit can do that kind of work.
Be wary of the fool, yet treat him with the love of Christ. Do what you can to alleviate the effects of his folly on others and himself. But do not reason with him as you would another rational mind. And do not give to him responsibility, such as the possession of money, that he will only use for harm.
The best you can do (which is truly the best we should do) is to pray for him. Pray for the work of the Spirit in him. And love him with the love of Christ, a love that seeks his good. We were all fools when it came to knowledge of God and redemption. Only the Spirit working in us turned us away from folly to the wisdom of the Gospel. Only the love of God pierced through our darkness.
posted by M Clark at 8/08/2013 08:43:00 AM
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