Two Invitations…(one of them should be rejected)

Read Proverbs Chapter 9

“Lay aside immaturity and live and walk in the way of insight” (Proverbs 9:6, NRSV)

The invitation of God, via Lady Wisdom, is to trade immaturity for insightful living. It’s sounds like an invitation that no one would refuse, right?  It sounds that way, but as soon as you begin to walk down that road of insight, the days of “immaturity” seem like a fond memory.  Because let’s be honest; immaturity can be fun. 

Playing, sleeping, or otherwise working hard at doing nothing is quite enjoyable when you stop only to eat something someone else has prepared, to change into clothes that someone else has washed, or complain about something that wasn’t done for you the way you wanted.  It is much less painful to blame someone else for everything bad that happens to you and take credit when you having a banner day.  Putting off something you should do to do something that will please you in the moment is a universal temptation. These are the calls of Madame Folly.  Over against this we have the practicality of the Hebrew Lady wisdom.  The invitation of Lady wisdom is to intentionally live responsibly and unselfishly in the community God has planted you.  You can see that practicality in the some of the examples included in between Lady Wisdom’s invite and Madame Folly.  There are hundreds more coming in the coming chapters. 

Question:  Whose invitation are you saying “yes” to today?

Prayer:  Lord, help us grasp the beauty and life-raising potential of living with the guidance of Your wisdom.  Call us away from the ways we have followed Madame Folly.  Amen.

Prayer Focus:  Pray for God to put on your heart someone you need to reach out today.

Song:  Sophia Sing to Me – Andy Rogers