Proverbs 14:18 Commentary and Bible Study

It is a marvellous thing that in all the chaos and unpredictability of this world there are certain laws at work which unfailingly exert their influence on our lives. This is reliably true however only in the spiritual realm, where God insists that the righteous are rewarded and the wicked punished. The Christian cannot be sure how his life will turn out as to wealth or security or health, for these things are not guaranteed by God and are allocated to us or not, according to his hidden purposes, but the promises that he has given to his children cannot fail, and these are chiefly concerned with our spiritual welfare and progress. They can be depended on in all the confusion of this world and they cut across all the rising and falling of our earthly circumstances.The second half of the proverb works in the reverse way to the first. Whereas the simple inherit folly, those who have overcome folly gain the knowledge which the simple lack. Where do we start? With the fear of the Lord which is the beginning of wisdom.Those who are simple in a bad sense, or naïve, inherit folly. What is in mind is not those who lack knowledge about this world’s affairs: science, history, mathematics, politics, but those who lack knowledge about God: his commandments, his purposes, how to serve him, the spiritual dangers to be avoided in life. Folly masters them so that they are in its grip and all their choices in life and all their decisions are governed by it. It leads them into danger and harm, when wisdom would have told an intellectually less able person that this was not the way to go. It may be accompanied by great confidence in their ability to do the right thing, but there is little reliance on God, nor looking to him for guidance. Solomon says that they inherit folly and it is a strong word, for an inheritance comes automatically to a person by right, and is not earned or worked for. Yes, we inherit a sinful nature from Adam, but what is in mind here is the outcome of the expression of this nature; this is an injurious inheritance and not one to be coveted. With no effort on their part, the simple arrive at foolishness and sin grows up within them strong and healthy.There is an inheritance for the prudent also, but the proverb chooses to look at the matter from another angle. They receive a crown from the Lord as kings who have prevailed over their enemies. By implication, they have had a personal triumph which has enabled them to defeat folly and gain wisdom leading to life. Although no Christian sees himself as worthy of any reward from his Saviour, God is pleased to link the blessings he gives us with our good works in this life in recognition of our triumph over evil. The crown we receive is knowledge. Knowledge is a very personal thing, a very intimate thing; it is not transferable, and one who has it cannot give it to another except through long and patient effort. Ultimately it is given by the Lord. It is indeed a crown for our starting point is spiritual ignorance and darkness. Just as reason sets us far above the beasts, so spiritual wisdom sets the believer far above the worldling. A crown is not only a symbol of authority but an adornment, and knowledge is something that adds glory and honour to the one who has it. He is not ostentatious about the display of it, but it cannot help but show itself in all his responses to life.