Self-Injury

Proverbs 8:32-36

What is it about the word don’t that makes us want to do? For example, put a don’t touch wet paint sign on something and what happens? People touch it. Over the years we’ve had lots of teenagers out at our place, especially when my kids were in that season of life. On several occasions I’ve warned our young visitors that the electric wire around our pasture is hot. Don’t touch it. Of course, what happens? There’s always one that has to go out there and grab it and learn the hard way. Trust me on this one, it doesn’t feel good.

People do this in almost every walk of life. We ignore the warnings. Perhaps one reason for that is the excessive warning labels today. For example, one warning label on a washing machine stated, do not put any person in this washer. Another stated, do not hold the wrong end of a chainsaw. Are these necessary, and how do you take them seriously? I bought a fishing lure the other day and the package said, warning, may cause cancer. Really? In a highly litigious culture, warnings are often more to protect the manufacturer than to truly warn the customer. At some point we become inoculated to the warnings. That’s a problem because some warnings need to be heeded.

Now therefore, O sons, listen to me, for blessed are they who keep my ways. Heed instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it. Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at my doorposts. This again is lady wisdom. The lady wisdom who calls to us is the same lady wisdom that was there when the world was created. Those who listen to her are blessed. The Hebrew word translated blessed means happy. You want to know how to be happy? Heed instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it.

The proverb is not portraying a bored teenager tired of hearing another lecture from his parent. This is not a picture of lady wisdom sounding the alarm while the people ignore the crazy old lady. Happy are those who listen, watching daily at my gates, waiting at my doorposts. The happy are those who are eager to hear what she has to say. They hang around her gates waiting for her to come out. They keep knocking at the door hoping she’ll come out and teach them more. Again, it’s the imagery of one seeking after a lover. 

Why is this so important? For he who finds me, finds life and obtains favor from the LORD. But he who sins against me injures himself; all those who hate me love death. How we respond to lady wisdom is a matter of life and death. The warning is serious. Sin injures self, according to lady wisdom.

Death here isn’t simply talking about dying. Death is referring to all that is contrary to life. Death is about misery, emptiness, and hopelessness. It’s about fear and anxiety and despair. To hate lady wisdom is to love death, to choose an unhappy miserable way of life, to injure self. Hate here is not a term of emotion so much as a term of contrast. Rather than pursuing lady wisdom like a lover it’s more like completely ignoring someone you don’t care about. Sorry, lady, not interested. 

I lived in downtown Chicago in the late 70’s. In those days there were lots of homeless people on the streets. When you walked down the street it was common for them to approach you for money. At first it was a little intimidating but over time you just get used to it. I walked the streets to and from work every day and there were lots of people along the way asking for money. At some point you no longer hear them and just walk on by. They’re still talking but you’re not listening. 

That’s a good description of what’s happening with lady wisdom today. She’s still calling in the streets, but people don’t want to hear it. She shouts the warning, he who sins against me injures himself, but the people laugh at her. It’s just another warning label to be ignored. All those who hate me love death, she calls. But her voice is drowned out by the other noises in the streets. She’s still calling, but who’s listening?

So, what about you? As is often true in Proverbs, the focus here is not so much on the specific teachings as it is on listening and learning. The Bible is full of wisdom for those who are willing to seek after lady wisdom like a lover. Happy are those who keep her ways. Is that true or isn’t it? Happy is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates waiting at my door posts. For he who finds me finds life. True or not? He who sins against me injures himself. Yes or no? 

I’m not looking for the right answer here. We both know what that is. I’m asking you what you truly believe about lady wisdom. You don’t answer that with words, you answer that with actions. What specifically are you doing each day to hear from God and learn? In what practical ways are you hanging around lady wisdom’s gates or ringing her doorbell? What positive steps have you taken to learn more and grow more? What sense does it make if I say I love her, know she will make me happy, but have no time for her?

Take some time this week to determine one specific thing you can do to lurk around the gates of lady wisdom’s home. What daily habit can you establish to ring her doorbell every day? Both the warning and the blessing are clear in this Proverb. What you believe to be true will be evident in what steps you take to ignore lady wisdom or pursue her. Remember, it’s your actions that are revealing what you really believe. Self-injury is not necessary.