Joel M Bradshaw

20Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice; 21at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks: 22“How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge? 23If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you.–Proverbs 1

Our society promotes simplicity as something to pursue. Why make life complicated when the simple things are less stressful and for discipline’s sake are highly repeatable? I find the translation NAIVE to be better here. Naivety is an ignorance that is maintained. You could choose to be informed on a matter, but you would rather stay in an uninformed place.

Naivety isn’t necessarily ignorance. There are things I will always be ignorant of–say, what my wife went through in childbirth. Even though I was there and holding her hand! But naivety can be remedied. Knowledge increases through the pursuit of teaching. Wisdom increases through faithful application of good teaching.

Think of Lady Wisdom as the personification of God’s teaching calling out to you, the simple and naive. Either you are going to pursue God’s offer of knowledge and wisdom or you are not. Simplicity can be helpful, but naivety is not. In your pursuit of simplicity you can and should still take God’s offer. Wisdom is calling in the pages of the Bible. What are you doing with that? The greatest and most necessary changes in my life came as a result of following biblical counsel. Don’t choose comfort over necessary.–JMB