A Wellspring of Life

"Understanding is a wellspring of life to him who has it.

    But the correction of fools is folly."

Proverbs 16:22

Our ability to understand is a gift given us by God.  Elihu said in Job 32:7-9, "I said, ‘Age should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.’  ⁸ But there is a spirit in man, and the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding. ⁹ Great men are not always wise, nor do the aged always understand justice."  God who knows all things and created mankind is able to give eternal life and understanding by His grace.  Unless the living God had revealed Himself to us, we could never know Him or experience the abundant life He delights to provide all who trust in Him.

Solomon described understanding as a "wellspring of life" to those who have it.  This understanding is more than observing or accepting reality as we perceive it, but it is knowledge of what is true and the desire to submit our lives to it.  This wellspring of life and understanding of truth mentioned by Solomon ultimately points to Jesus Christ who is the Way, the Truth and the Life.  Understanding and receiving the Gospel by faith in Jesus is the way of salvation, and as redeemed children of God He gives us spiritual insight and understanding we could never obtain by ourselves through searching or sacrifice.  When Peter said Jesus alone had the words of eternal life, he was right on (John 6:68).  There is nowhere else we can go and no one who has the understanding Jesus does.

The biblical definition of a fool is someone who lives as if there is no God--and they live as if God does not exist and will never face judgment or a reckoning before their Creator before whom they must one day appear.  Solomon said in contrast to those who have understanding, "The correction of fools is folly."  I am struck by the depth of God's wisdom held forth here.  Correcting those who lack understanding is in one regard foolish for naturally they cannot perceive their need for repentance of sin, that eternal death is the incredibly high the price of sin, and how Jesus has provided atonement for sinners anyone can receive as free gift by faith in Him.  God allows the folly of fools--the troubles and consequences their foolish choices produce--to correct them by gently goading them to return to God.  God is wisely able to correct fools who lack understanding so they too can know Him and experience eternal life He has provided by His grace.

Amazingly, God is able to use people who were once foolish, disobedient and damned to be His chosen instruments to bring understanding to those who lack it.  Proverbs 26:4-5 says, "Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him. ⁵ Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit."  We observe Jesus (who always was and is without sin) doing this many times when He was asked questions by people who were blind to His divine nature, rejected and despised Him.  Read the Gospels for yourself and see how He answered foolish questioners with questions that revealed hypocrisy, poverty of understanding and ignorance, for He knew their hearts and answered with such marvellous wisdom no one could speak against it.  Saul of Tarsus had been kicking against the goads for a long time, and being blinded on the road by the presence of the resurrected Jesus was the loving rebuke he needed.  Rather than remaining in or returning to our folly, may our lives be a wellspring of Jesus' life because of the understanding He has given us.