Ignoring Wisdom Has Consequences

All parents have experienced the following scenario.  We say to a child, “Stop doing that.”  And he continues.  We say again, “Stop doing that”.  And he continues.  We say again.  “Stop doing that or I’m going to ______________” (fill in the blank with your preferred discipline method).  And he continues.  Finally we say, “That’s it.  I’ve had it”.  And he immediately says, “Ok, I’ll stop”.  But if you are a consistent parent, the child stopping the behavior has come too late.  The discipline has to follow.

Our heavenly Father is like that.  There often are times when we ignore what God’s word says and then when we finally begin to experience the consequence or we see the imminent consequence we cry out, “Ok, I’ll stop”.  But the consequence continues.  Here in this passage we see that, after ignoring the voice of wisdom for too long, people will call on wisdom but wisdom will not answer.  It will be too late.  There are times when God gives us over to our sinful desires.  Yes, He will ultimately forgive, but He doesn’t always restore everything.  Sin has consequences.

“Then they will call on me, but I will not answer;
They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me.  29 Because they hated knowledge
And did not choose the fear of the Lord,  30 They would have none of my counsel
And despised my every rebuke.  31  Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way,
And be filled to the full with their own fancies.  32 For the turning away of the simple will slay them,
And the complacency of fools will destroy them;  33 But whoever listens to me will dwell safely,
And will be secure, without fear of evil.”

 Let’s take the last verse of this section to heart.  If we listen to wisdom we will dwell safely.  We will be secure without fear of evil.  God’s wisdom will keep us out of trouble, at least the trouble we get into when we listen to the voice of sinners.

In wisdom,
Eric