A Paradox - The Greatness Of The 'Simple'

In this passage, wisdom is speaking: "Whoever is simple, let him turn in here." Proverbs 9:4

The way of wisdom does not come naturally to the citizen of the world. Men are not born with wisdom, because mankind is fallen. Wisdom has to be sought out, pursued, prayed for. The excuses have to be overcome, the deceptions that all mankind are subject to, must be forsaken. Wisdom is not reserved for the intellectual, or for the cultured, or for the great men of society, no, the Scripture invites "the simple." Many a great man of renown is a fool. He thinks himself wise, he has established for himself a name, but in the eyes of God it's a different story, he is a fallen and pathetic human being deceived and filled with pride. The least in the Kingdom of God is far better than the greatest in the world. And that's the point. Which is better, attaining to a great name, or being great in the eyes of God? Generally speaking, these two are opposites. So what will you do oh man, will you spend your life seeking to achieve greatness? In the end, what will it have gained for you - for the end of each man is the same - a grave in the ground or ash in an urn. As it is said, death is the great equalizer. vs 6: "Forsake foolishness and live, and go in the way of understanding." If a person desires to be great in the eyes of God, first he must put away foolishness. The ways of the world are foolishness in the eyes of God, says the Lord. "For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God." 1 Corinthians 3:19 Whom do you admire? The expert speaking on the daily news? Do you trust what he has to say? Don't be a fool, men like this love to argue the great subjects of the world, but they are blind and deceived, and they follow an agenda. They spend their lives on things that will not mean a thing when they stand before God. Indeed, most do not give God a thought, they are concerned with themselves and the fame they have achieved, yet the Word of God says that the wisdom of this world is foolishness. Why then do they live their lives in foolishness? It's because they have no idea that they're actually living in foolishness. They think they are great because they have succeeded in achieving a great name before the public. What a surprise awaits them when they stand before the Lord. Achieving a great name in the eyes of man and amassing great wealth from his achievement - can mean a man's doom. Indeed, Scriptures say that these have received their reward. No, the Lord looks upon the heart, and the greatest obstacle to a man being received by God is ...pride. Pride blinds. Pride corrupts. And there is hardly a "great" man on the earth who is not blind and corrupt, and these are two things that will cause a man's doom. God calls "the simple." To be great in the eyes of God will usually mean only the simple will find it. "For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;" 1 Corinthians 1:26-27 Whoever is simple, let him turn to the Word of God. Don't resist it thinking that it's too hard for you to understand. The truth is, it's too hard for ANYONE to understand. What you will find when you immerse yourself in the Word of God is that it is LIVING. That means that the Spirit of God will speak to you as you read. He will "quicken" the Word and make it personal to you. You will discover things, not from a high-brow ability to understand, but from a relationship with the author. He wrote it FOR YOU. It is personal. Read it. Read it daily. If you come across something you don't understand, as everyone will -- just keep on reading. The Spirit of God will make it personal to you, and sometimes in such a great way as to change your whole life. "And you will seek me and find me, when you search for me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:13 Don't pursue accolades from the world. In comparison to the praise from God, they are meaningless at best, and dangerous at worst. Seek the praise that is from God. That will last for all eternity.