“Simpletons, Scoffers, Fools”
As parents, grandparents, teachers, and members of this congregation, we are reminded today on Back To School Sunday that our task is to “train up young people in the way they should go.” (22:6) It is the wise thing to do. Psalm 111 ended with “… it is a wise thing to praise God whole-heartedly, to love God completely, and to fear God totally - when fear means being overwhelmed by God’s gracious love. When we give thanks with our whole heart, when we "study" the works of God through worship, when we cultivate an "irresistible attraction to the grace of God," we truly become wise. That is what we should want for all people, our children and ourselves – to be wise. And so, we teach them - or try to.
To be wise would be a good thing – an excellent thing, wouldn’t it? Unfortunately we know people are not always wise, nor do we always do wise things, as our reading from Proverbs today points out. Listen once again to the first four verses of our reading from Proverbs 1:20-23.
20Wisdom cries out in the street;
in the squares she raises her voice.
21At the busiest corner 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?
23Give heed to my reproof;
I will pour out my thoughts to you;
I will make my words known to you.
“Wisdom cries out…” She doesn’t quietly or calmly tell us. She doesn’t raise her voice a little. She shouts for all hear! It is important that everybody hears what Wisdom has to say. So Wisdom goes out into the streets, to all the places in town where people gather, especially to the busiest corner. There is no way a person can come or go without hearing – no chance a person won’t hear what she has to say.
And what does she say? She says, “How long, you simpletons, you scoffers, you fools? How long before you listen? How long before you learn? How long before you get it right? How long?”
How long, you simpletons…? If you lack common sense, you might be a simpleton. If you find yourself constantly saying, “I’m only human” you might be a simpleton. If others think of you as an airhead or scatterbrained, you might be a simpleton. If you lack good judgment or seldom know what is going on, you might be a simpleton. If you resemble a “shnook” or a space cadet you might be a simpleton.
How long, you scoffers…? If you taunt and heckle others, you might be a scoffer. If you make fun of or laugh at others, you might be a scoffer. If you ridicule others, you might be a scoffer. If you treat others with contempt or put them down, you might be a scoffer. If you are not pleasant to be around or always seem to be disagreeable, you might be a scoffer.
How long, you fools…? If sometimes your make poor decisions, you might be a fool. If you are easily tricked or made to appear ridiculous, you might be a fool. If you are gullible you might be a fool. If you are a soft touch or easily taken advantage of, you might be a fool. If you are always acting unwisely, you might be a fool. If you lack good judgment, you might be a fool. If you are a goofball or a bozo, you might be a fool.
Really, when it comes down to it, there is not a whole lot a difference between the three: simpleton, scoffer, or fool. And if one or all of them might be us, Wisdom is saying, “Listen! This time, listen and learn.
With a wise person’s teaching and instruction, the gullible person can become wise. The young are gullible – they need direction, they need challenges, they need instruction and discipline – as do all of us. The process of becoming wise never ends. We can always use more guidance, always learn more, and always become more like Christ. We all need instruction so we might know God better.
Our classes on Sunday morning (and study groups throughout the week) are opportunities for such instruction. At the beginning of Proverbs, Solomon says, “Study hard, because what you receive is worth the effort! These are words to live by!
Earlier, we recognized the children who were in Sunday School this morning, and their teachers as well. We prayed for them. We asked for wisdom for teachers and students alike. We asked God to bless their efforts this year and to multiply their number. We asked that this church be about learning, to be about teaching, and to be about making disciples for Jesus the Christ. We asked that people’s lives be transformed by what we do here this year.
A fool is a person who needs to learn, but hasn’t listened. In fact, the foolish has rejected wisdom, has rejected instruction, and has rejected the idea of needing to know more about God. The foolish person might say, “I know all there is to know about God, I don’t need to know any more.” And yet we believe there is more, for all of us to learn when it comes to God.
This is a new year. It is a fresh start for all of us. It is an exciting time, full of promise. There is so much to learn!
Wisdom cries out for all to hear. Become wise in the Lord and live. Live! It is the wise thing to do. Let us pray.
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