Proverbs 8:1-10:32
Proverbs 9:13, 16-18, "Folly is an unruly woman...To those who have no sense, she says, ‘Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious!' But little do they know that the dead are there, that her guests are deep in the realm of the dead."
Buy this! Drink that! Smoke this! In this day and age, we are constantly bombarded with advertisements trying to sell us things, many of them unnecessary at best and downright harmful at worst. In the book of Proverbs, we see two women competing in their "advertisements" to passersby, enticing them in to dine with them: Wisdom and Folly.
Both Wisdom and Folly have prepared a meal, but while Wisdom is a hospitable and responsible woman of character, Folly is clamorous and unpleasant, encouraging indulgence in sin. She lures people with the promise of forbidden pleasures and the thrill of breaking the rules. And while stolen water may taste sweet at the moment, it offers no lasting satisfaction. Folly and sin lead only to death.
Who will you dine with today? When tempted by the insidious and illicit pleasures of the moment, remember that only the living water of God can ever truly satisfy. Wisdom and Folly may both be vying for your attention, but it is up to you to decide which you will heed.
Dear Lord, I want to "dine" with Your Wisdom today. Don't let temporary pleasures cloud my sight; remind me of what is truly fulfilling. Help me live my life with a long-term vision, trusting in Your leadership at all times. Amen!