Happy 2026, my friends! I hope your year is off to a great start, and you have made some commitments that are helping you form healthy new routines. For those of you who are sticking to a new Bible reading schedule, I am praying that you stay faithful and that it becomes your new normal.
Sunday, I taught our teen girls about the importance of gaining wisdom. Our new curriculum explores the teenage years of Jesus, as described in Luke 2, to encourage teens to follow His example. Proverbs became the topic of discussion as we contrasted wisdom and foolishness. The irony of reading Proverbs is that we often view ourselves as the wise ones and everyone else as foolish—or perhaps that is just me. Lol! However, the truth is that as fellow sinners, we are all foolish at times. It is wise to read Proverbs with the understanding that we are the foolish ones, and we need Jesus to make us wise. Here are just a few of the descriptions of foolishness that we looked up on Sunday. If you are still looking for a study to begin this year, contrasting wisdom and foolishness is a great topic to explore!
- Foolish people despise instruction.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge:
but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1:7
How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity?
and the scorners delight in their scorning,
and fools hate knowledge? Proverbs 1:22
- A foolish child despises his parents and brings them grief and sorrow.
A wise son maketh a glad father:
but a foolish man despiseth his mother. Proverbs 15:20
A foolish son is a grief to his father,
and bitterness to her that bare him. Proverbs 17:25
- A fool is contentious.
A fool’s lips enter into contention,
and his mouth calleth for strokes. Proverbs 18:6
If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man,
whether he rage or laugh, there is no rest. Proverbs 29:9
- Fools utter all their mind.
A fool uttereth all his mind:
but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards. Proverbs 29:11
A foolish woman is clamorous:
she is simple, and knoweth nothing. Proverbs 9:13
Wisdom, of course, is the opposite of foolishness, which Jesus displayed in every interaction, even on the cross. This may be the most difficult example of Jesus that we will ever try to follow, since our instinct is to get angry at the foolish and make them listen to reason. Even more unbelievable is that it is often people who claim to love the Lord who will be obliviously foolish. In fact, Jesus warned the disciples that it would be religious people who would be their most ardent persecutors.
If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me. John 15:18-21
Recognizing this as fact rules out several erroneous ideas people have of Christianity.
- All people who claim to love God will not agree on everything. In John 15:10-12, Jesus says that the disciples must keep His commandments to show their love to Him, and they must love one another. But note that love for others does not keep them from obeying Jesus. Those who make the Bible fit their own ideas will not get along with those who take Jesus’s words seriously and follow through with obedience. There is clear disagreement.
- There is no way to avoid “church hurt.” Jesus experienced the ultimate church hurt, and what was His response? Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. Luke 23:34 There is no allowance for bitterness or self-pity here. Forgive and follow God’s leading for what He wants you to do next.
- Getting along with everyone is not the purpose of Christianity. In fact, trying to please men is the opposite of wisdom. Pleasing God must be our highest motivation.
The fear of man bringeth a snare:
but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe. Proverbs 29:25
- The church will not feel welcoming to those who refuse reproof and instruction. While every church should welcome every person with love and mercy, those who despise wisdom should never feel comfortable in a church that preaches God’s truth. Those who will not heed God’s warnings will seek a less “judgmental” congregation.
Why do I bring this up? Because it is important to note, as you enter 2026, that it will probably not be easy, breezy, and trouble-free. When we have a disagreement or struggle with a fellow sinner, we might want to consider the example of Jesus and practice His wisdom when it comes.
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. Hebrews 12:1-4
Jesus, of course, sees. He hears. He cares. He will help when you call out to Him. But for His part, He does have some clear expectations for you to respond with wisdom to the contradiction of sinners. Foolish sinners will seem like obstacles in your walk of faith, but in fact, they are set there by God’s sovereignty for an opportunity to live out the Gospel like Jesus. This is the perfection of wisdom! I pray this is as much a blessing to you as it was to me as I studied this week. Blessings, my friends!
His Song in the Night 