“Doing wrong is like a joke to a fool,

  but wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding.”

Proverbs 10:23 ESV

The writer gives us another diagnostic tool, in case we had any doubts. Are you a fool or man of understanding?

Before answering, it is important to remember that biblical wisdom isn’t the ability to do well on a trivia quiz. In other words, wisdom isn’t the accumulation of a wealth of knowledge. Wisdom is related to a fear and knowledge of the Lord, and living in godliness.

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,

  and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.”

Proverbs 9:10 ESV

“Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you;

  reprove a wise man, and he will love you.”

Proverbs 9:8 ESV

Do you ever wonder if you are a fool? Here’s a quick and easy guide for self-evaluation. How do you respond to correction? An honest, reflective answer to that question will answer the previous question.

Lord, please shape my heart so that I am more consistently receptive and appreciative of correction.

“All the words of my mouth are righteous;

  there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.”

Proverbs 8:8 ESV

Wisdom has offered a challenge. Will you accept the challenge to not only speak righteous words, but also not speak twisted or crooked things? The Apostle Paul speaks to this issue in the New Testament.

“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”

Ephesians 4:29 ESV

“keep my commandments and live;

  keep my teaching as the apple of your eye;”

Proverbs 7:2 ESV

Here, I want to look at the idiom, “apple of your eye.” In English, that phrase is used to reference something that is cherished, as in “My dad loved all of his children, but our youngest brother was the apple of his eye.”

The Hebrew word that is translated as apple is ishon, which is literally the pupil, the center part of the eye. So, “apple of your eye” is a good translation of ishon. Although we don’t generally give much thought to it, we naturally protect and cherish the eye, especially the pupil. And that is exactly what this verse is communicating.

How are you cherishing wisdom’s teaching?