BibleProject | One Story That Leads to JesusSample

Today’s reading features an excellent lesson in how to, and how not to, read the Bible. Say we ask, “What does the Bible say I should do when I encounter a foolish person?” No problem. Look up Proverbs 26:4, and find, “Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him.” Easy. Don’t engage, or we’ll be pulled into foolishness as well.

Then the next sentence says: “Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes” (Prov. 26:5). Wait? Is this a contradiction? With our question in mind, it can seem that way. But the Bible is not answering the question we’re asking. It’s suggesting that we will encounter both situations in life, and there are no less than two legitimate ways to respond. You will have to operate with wisdom. Sometimes, you have to move along and not get sucked into the chaos. Other times, you should confront foolishness with bold truth.

This two-verse example is a small picture of the larger whole of Scripture. It often does not answer our modern questions. Instead, Scripture invites us to meditate on its challenging stories and teachings that don’t always fit neatly together. The friction between the two forces us to recognize our limitations. This discomfort helps us stay humble and reminds us to seek the spirit of the law.

Another, similar example is the idea that when lots of people are helping, heavy work feels much lighter. That’s true. But in other situations, too many cooks spoil the broth. So it’s not always true that more people are better. The “right thing” depends on context.

It takes time, conversation, and intentional thinking to let these proverbs develop wisdom in our lives. But that effort is worth it. Proverbs teaches that the way of wisdom leads to good—the way of folly … not so much. Watch today’s video to learn what Jesus said about using wisdom wisely.

Reflection Questions

• Take a moment to read Jesus’ teaching about pride, humility, and social relationships in Luke 14:1-14. How does Jesus apply the wisdom of Proverbs 25:6-7 in this context?
• Look back to Proverbs 17:17-18, another pair of seemingly contradictory sayings. What are some situations where the first of these two proverbs would reflect the wiser course of action? What about situations where the second proverb points to a better way to proceed?