There is always another voice calling to us when temptation is near. It is the voice of wisdom. In chapter seven we read about a young man, a man who lacked wisdom, was led into temptation. He ended up sacrificing everything.
It is no coincidence that these verses follow those of chapter seven. There is another voice beside the seductive woman that calls to this young man. This voice will save him from death, if he will but listen.
Wisdom stands at the crossroads of life, always easily found (vv2-3). Unlike the temptation that moves everywhere (7:11-12), wisdom stays at the important junctures in life. When you need to make a decision, “Do I do this or that?” wisdom will be one of the choices.
Unlike the temptation, which is a private matter, the woman grabbing the foolish young man and talking just to him (7:13), wisdom calls out for everyone to hear. There is no need for a dark street, no need for hushed tones, nothing to cower in shame about. The right choice always presents itself. And for most people the right choice is clearly seen, but easily rejected.
The value of wisdom is like that of gold and precious jewels. No matter how unsteady the economy becomes, certain things will always have value. Wisdom is one of those things. An old fool is still a fool! An old drunk is still a drunk. An old cheating spouse is still a cheating spouse. Old liar, liar. Old thief, thief. You get the idea.
Wisdom by contrast gets better with age. Its value goes up rather than down. And we can choose it today and its value in our lives will last. Good choices gain strength while foolish choices just repeat themselves like a bad stomach virus. No matter what you do, you can’t get rid of the taste because the effects of foolishness keep rising and making their presence known.
And it really is up to our choices in each moment. Every time we come to a crossroad we must choose wisdom among the many options. It might not be the glitziest option, but it is the one with the greatest value and the one with no “under water” potential.
The Arnold Journey 