The book of Proverbs is filled with a cast of characters. Two of them, however, stand out—Wisdom and Folly. Both are personified as women. The goal of Proverbs is instruction in wisdom. We are to seek wisdom and flee folly.

Listen to Proverbs:

“I [wisdom] love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me” (Pr 8:17).

“For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD, but he who fails to find me injures himself; all who hate me love death” (Pr 8:35-36).

In verse 17 of Proverbs 8, there is a call to seek wisdom. We are called by Lady Wisdom to seek her diligently. That is, we are to work hard, assiduously, in our pursuit of wisdom. Why? Because with wisdom come life and the favor of God.

This is what Jesus meant when he said the following in John 8:

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. (John 8:31-32)

I appreciate the candor of Proverbs 8:35-36 especially, because those two lines clarify the binary that people are either in pursuit of wisdom or folly. We pursue one of the two women, if you will—Lady Wisdom or Lady Folly.

Those who pursue Lady Wisdom find life. Those who pursue Lady Folly injure themselves; they, in fact, “love death.”

Encouragement: How might things be different if we had a culture of Christians known for their pursuit of Lady Wisdom, who lived lives under the favor of the Lord, who demonstrated life in a culture consumed with darkness and death? I cannot speak for others, but as for me and my household, we aim to pursue Lady Wisdom and obtain the favor of the Lord. Because that way is the way of wisdom.