Wisdom doesn't need a disguise

Out in the open wisdom calls aloud,
    she raises her voice in the public square;
 on top of the wall she cries out,
    at the city gate she makes her speech:
“How long will you who are simple love your simple ways?
    How long will mockers delight in mockery
    and fools hate knowledge?
Repent at my rebuke!
    Then I will pour out my thoughts to you,
    I will make known to you my teachings.
Proverbs 1:20-23

Wisdom doesn't need a disguise. And that's exactly why it's hard to find.

You see, foolishness is always dressed up. Lies are always camouflaged so they look like truth.

But wisdom doesn't need a disguise. So when you line up all of them, it can be hard to see through the facade and charade to the verite. Yes, that's French for truth.

I was listening to Proverbs through my Bible app earlier, and it's amazing how the living and active Word of God speaks to me in so many fresh ways. As I listened, the words, "calls aloud," "raises her voice," and "cries out" stuck out to me.

Wisdom is speaking loud and clear. Are we listening? Or are we so deafened by the whispers and rumors of foolishness that we can't focus our ears to hear wisdom?

Maybe we can tune in and learn to distinguish wisdom from the cacophony. How?

Why doesn't wisdom need a disguise?

1) Wisdom is truth. Truth is truth. There wouldn't be such a concept as truth if it wasn't real and necessary, and, well, true in our world. Truth doesn't need to hide because it's what is right and honest and real about life. No shame.

2) Wisdom, quite often, is just plain common sense. Think about it. Is it wise to marry someone who has vastly different beliefs about life than you? No. Common sense says you'll be alone in your beliefs and committed to someone for life that you'll disagree with about things that are most important to you and closest to your heart. Or, something less dramatic: Is it wise to buy stuff you can't afford (now or ever)? Um, no. Common sense says debt is a stressful, dangerous thing.

3) Wisdom is good. Since we serve a God who is wise, we know that wisdom comes from Him. And since our God is good... add it up and we have a good God who bestows wisdom. When we are in tune with God and what He says is good in His Word, we can know wisdom by what is good.

Good is not the same as "nice," however. That is a tricky thing in today's culture because we are told that being "nice" is what is good. The Bible doesn't talk about being nice; the Bible talks about being kind, patient, loving, self-controlled, wise and innocent. Kindness is being respectful and loving to someone, and may also include telling them in a gentle but confident way why something they are doing or thinking is wrong because we don't want harm to come to them.

Listen to the voice of wisdom. She is easy to hear.