Bible Reading Blog
“Two Invitations”
Categories: Congregational Bible ReadingBible Reading: Proverbs 9
When we were in Beaumont last week, Kelsey and I were given many invitations to have dinner with old friends. Unfortunately, we only had a limited time and weren’t able to say yes to all of them. One night, we were given two invitations to dinner, at the same time in different locations. And so, we had to make a choice about who to spend time with. Although we caught some flak from the group we rejected, the choice we made was not a big deal; but it did require us to weigh our options and make a decision based on what we felt was the best use of our time.
Not every choice we make will alter the course of life, but some will. In our spiritual walk we are given two invitations: to walk the way of wisdom or the way of folly. Whichever we choose will determine the course of our eternity. The tricky thing is that these two invitations often seem identical at first glance. In Proverbs 9, both wisdom and folly invite the simple person to spend time with them (Proverbs 9.4, 16). But what makes these invitations different is not what they promise, but where they take you.
Notice that foolishness says, “Come as a fool and stay as a fool” (Proverbs 9.16-17), but wisdom says, “Come as you are, and be changed” (9.6). The way of the fool is easy and temporarily satisfying but ends in death (9.18). The way of wisdom transforms and leads to life (9.6).
We receive many invitations in life, but what we need to consider is where those invitations will take us. These invitations will come in the form of the people we choose to spend time with, the places we choose to go, the way we spend our time, etc. Our choices in these situations will determine the course of our lives. The point is, we have a choice to make. Will we walk with wisdom or folly?
The choice you make today may not produce an immediate consequence, but it will affect you in the long run. As you make your choices this week, listen to the wisdom from the father: “Leave your simple ways, and live, and walk in the way of insight” (Proverbs 9.6).
