Consequences are not a popular topic. The “warners” in our lives remind us, maybe all too often, that all of our actions have a consequence. Though labels are unhelpful, we label the results good or bad. Regardless, the principle is that our actions have afterlives. When it comes to Lady Wisdom, the voice of God to us, there are undesirable outcomes if we do not listen. Proverbs 1:24-31 provides some details that may prove shocking.
THE SETUP (vv. 24-25, 29-30) — Wisdom says the consequences of ignoring her cry are substantial because her efforts to reach us were substantial. Calling to us, stretching out her hand to us, repeatedly offering counsel to us, and even correction. Yet, she says, we refused, did not heed, ignored, and would have none of the correction.
- Icalled and you refused
- I stretched out my hand and no one heeded
- You have ignored all my counsel
- You would have none of my reproof
- They hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord
- They would have none of my counsel
- They despised all my reproof
This is worth pausing to consider because we need help sometimes. Think about it. Think about the times we cry out to God for help. Think of what we expected to come as help. Then, think of all the ways He could have helped us. How is it that we refused His every attempt to pour wisdom into us, to reveal the wise way?
There is much to suggest our state of mind. It’s not a reach. We have refused wisdom before, so why did we ignore? Pride, maybe. Stubbornness, maybe. In the Southern United States, we might say that Lady Wisdom has the receipts! Whatever our reason at the time, there is evidence of our refusal to hear wisdom.
WISDOM’S RESPONSE (vv. 26-28) — The personification of wisdom is powerful because we can look back and see the results in our lives that lacked wisdom. When we see clearly this time, we may notice wisdom’s response.
- I will laugh at your calamity that comes like a whirlwind
- I will mock when panic strikes you like a storm
- I will mock when distress and anguish come upon you
- You will call, but I will not answer
- You will seek diligently, but will not find me
Think back. Have we ever felt mocked by life? Have strong winds of misfortune blown into our lives and then we sought wisdom? What about panic? Did it come like a storm, ravaging our mindsets, inciting anxious thoughts? Have we been distressed and anguished, plagued with the outcomes of a lack of wisdom? When all this happened, how hard did we pray? How many people did we pull into the panic and distress to pray with and for us?
And how deafening was the silence when we finally sought wisdom?
Remember the first installment of this wisdom series, Wisdom Appeals, Introduction. Wisdom positioned herself at the head of the street, at the start of of a thing, and cried out warnings. Don’t do it! Listen to me! I have a better way! Avoid foolishness! Love me! Love knowledge!
We can wait too late to cry out for wisdom. Lady Wisdom is trying to keep us from the storm and calamity, from the whirlwind and distress. Let’s humble ourselves and be honest about pride, stubbornness, fear, or any other agitators. Let’s tell ourselves and God the truth. And then let’s receive wisdom before the storms break out.
