You are Invited - Proverbs 9

Please Click & Read
Proverbs 9

Receiving an invitation is always nice. Whether to a fancy dinner party, a child's birthday party, or just a casual night out with friends - it's always nice to be invited.  It's also great to be on the inviting end.  Making plans, prepping for guests to arrive, enjoying the company, and the compliments that follow of how "marvelous" a time everyone had.


Then there are those not-so-welcome invitations.  The ones that lead to those awkward occasions that you'd really just rather do without but feel obligated to attend (like extended family dinners on your spouses side... oh, come on, you know that sounds nicer than saying you hate to visit the in-laws). Then there are the invitations that we should decline - those that invite you to partake in something that could corrupt your values, that could taint your reputation, that might make others think less (or more) of you than they should - but we still find ourselves being obligated (or should I say tempted) to attend.


Solomon paints us a picture in Chapter 9 of two very different hostesses. One, who is Wisdom, has invited many to a feast in her home.  She sends out servants to call in everyone they see.  She invites those near and far - and she specifically invites those who are in need of her gifts. She has prepared choice food and drink from her own hands that will nourish all those who partake and while at her party she encourages them to accept the gift that she has for them so they can improve their lives once they return home.  


Then there is the second, who is Foley.  Foley goes to no length to seek out special guests, she just hollers from her balcony at anyone that might be passing by hoping to entice them to join her in her ways.  One by one they enter and she deceives them with food and drink she has stolen from who knows where.  She lies telling her victims that it is just as good or better than what her neighbor, Wisdom, has to offer.  But once they partake, and join in Foley's party, they find there is no happy return or blessing to be had, only death.


We must be able to decipher between the invitations that Foley brings which certainly will lead to our own demise and those that Wisdom offers us. For,

"Wisdom will multiply your days and add years to your life. If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit. If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer."   - vs. 11-12

Don't be an ignorant passer-by that is lured in by Foley and her wickedness. Rather, accept Wisdom's invitation. For the, "Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment." - vs. 10. Seek out Wisdom.  Seek out God.  You must know Him to know Wisdom.  Accept the invitation to the feast and your life will be blessed.  Reject it and you will die.


Chapter 9 Survival Skills:
This chapter tells us how to DISCERN between the invitations of Wisdom and Foley.  Choose Wisdom for Life and Foley for Death.