Proverbs 1:20-33
Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice… (v. 20) Here we are introduced to the personification of Wisdom, a woman calling in the streets and markets, trying to get the attention of the “simple ones”, scoffers, and fools. And she has some good news: If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you. (v. 23) That is, Wisdom is freely available to all who are willing to turn to her. Just turn away from loving being simple, turn away from delighting in scoffing, turn away from hating knowledge. Accept her reproof, and she will pour out [her] spirit. But then she has some bad news: she won’t wait forever; since the unwise refuse to listen now, she won’t be available to help later. (Prov. 1:24-31)
It is fairly clear that Wisdom does not expect many (if any) to heed her and to turn away from their present course toward destruction. And that is entirely consistent with what Jesus says:
Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
Matthew 7:13-14
The question for each of us, though, is not how much of the general populace “out there” is (or will be) wise or foolish. The question is, “Will I heed Wisdom’s call?”
For the simple are killed by their turning away,
Proverbs 1:32-33
and the complacency of fools destroys them;
but whoever listens to me will dwell secure
and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.
Note that the issue here is not a matter of one’s IQ, but of one’s will. It is a choice. Will I listen, or will I refuse? Will I humble myself and choose the fear of the LORD (v. 29)? Will I heed or ignore Wisdom’s counsel? How about you?
There is a quote that I have seen that is attributed to St. Thomas Aquinas: “For those who believe in God no explanation is necessary. For those who do not believe in God no explanation is possible.” That quote is a good reflection on today’s reading.
If I may speak boldly, when we share our faith we might think of ourselves as Wisdom speaking through the Holy Spirit. Then the results that John notes follow nicely – except that we don’t want to think of those to whom we are speaking as scoffers, fools, and simple ones! We have good news, and salvation is freely available, but people need to turn away from “their foolishness” and accept God’s forgiveness. And sadly, if they refuse to listen there may not be another chance. The analogy falls apart at verse 26: I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you. This verse is clearly not the Christian response. Our response to the sharing of our faith is to continue to pray for the person with whom we have been sharing – whether they have come to believe or not. There is no room in our faith for us to scorn nonbelievers!