Don’t Be a Fool - DRAFT - 3 sermons in one
Solomon Gets a Smartphone • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Intro ideas:
Not to long ago my wife and I became homeowners, and not long after that on a very blustery day, our storm door was left cracked open. Unfortunately this crack, allowed enough space for the wind to come inside and completely tear it from the house cracking the door frame to splinters. So, as a rookie homeowner, I asked ChatGPT the pros and cons of filing an insurance claim regarding the issue. All of us experience similar moments in which we are in search of wisdom for how to navigate our current challenges.
When we are in moments of indecision and lacking wisdom, where do we turn? Often the answer is not upward, but downward. Not to God, but to our phones. We are all in need of wisdom, but how do we find it?
2. As the Campus Pastor of The Avenue, I have the privilege of working with young adults all the time. Recently, one of them had a question regarding the process by which we become more like Jesus. As I leaned into their confusion with them, I asked them where they had gotten their idea from, to which this young person responded, YouTube. They then sent me the video so that we could discuss what was being taught.
How do you know what is true? How do you know that your teachers are accurate and reliable? How do you know the teachers you follow are worth following?
To answer this question, turn with me in your Bibles to Proverbs 13:20. If you’re using one of the Blue Bibles we provide for you, it will be found on page XX.
Proverbs 13:20 (ESV)
“Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.”
The focal point of this 14 word verse is: wisdom. what is wisdom and how do we acquire it?
If Solomon had a smartphone he would use it for knowledge, not wisdom. He would use it as a means to access information, not instruction on how to live.
The difference between knowledge and wisdom is that wisdom is knowledge applied.
Solomon was the wisest ever to live not because he had a PhD…he didn’t, universities hadn’t been invented yet, much less the internet. He was the wisest ever to live because he knew how to navigate life. He had knowledge made practical.
Do you have knowledge or wisdom?
Knowledge is accumulated through books, podcasts, universities, schools, etc. It’s the acquisition of information.
How do you gain wisdom? Wisdom is obtained
1) as a gift from God (James 1:5,16-17) and
2) through relationships. As we study this ancient proverb, we will see that in it their is much insight for us who are trying to navigate modern day times.
The challenge of modern day times is that we are the arbiters of truth.
Last month I had the privilage of going on a mission trip with one of our partners Stieger International, so we went to Austin TX for SXSW, and as I had conversations with people, I would ask, what do you think the purpose of life is?
People would respond, “to what makes you happy”, “find your own”
This way of thinking is a downstream effect of the enlightenment era.
Prior to the Enlightenment, truth was objective. The means of “epistemology” or the means by which you know something to be true was external, not internal. Thus, truth was viewed to be rooted in God as the source of all knowledge. Reason was viewed by Augustine and Aquinas as a tool to understand God’s revelation not a replacement for it. Further, because truth was external their was great value and importance placed on the church, a faith community by which believers could together keep in alignment with God’s teachings.
This is why Jesus’s brother writes in Jude 3, “I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people.” the faith and teaching of God’s word are clarified and preserved in the context of a local church.
After the enlightenment the means of epistemology, or the means by which we verify that which is true was inverted from external to internal, we now decide what is true.
The means of knowing, begins with what we think and what we feel and then progresses outward. Thus, skepticism has emerged and we as a society are hesitant to trust institutions and authority. The authority on truth is no longer God but mankind and truth is now divided into scientific truth, personal truth, and social media is full of various echo chambers.
The manner by which we can then see truth restored, is not by changing the echo chamber we listen to but rather by learning how to engage a diversity of thought with the counsel of wisdom.
The passage begins with the phrase “Whoever walks”.
Every step we take we take in the direction of something or someone. We are all on a journey. Many of you have probably heard the phrase, “life isn’t about the destination, it’s about the journey”. The sentiment has some value, as it places emphasis on the process over the product. However, this seemingly benign statement just isn’t true. The destination matters! That is certainly true practically, if your GPS consistently led you astray and you were never able to arrive at the correct location, that would not only be extremely frustrating but problematic.
Moreso this is true spiritually, we will either spend eternity with God or apart from Him. Thus the destination matters. Yet the destination is dependent to some extent on the journey we take to get there. Yet what’s more significant than the journey itself is who we journey with.
We are relational beings, we are not made to journey alone. Who do you journey with?
The passage presents two options for us. We either journey with the wise or with the fool.
Which is harder to identify? The wise person or the fool? You may think that the fool is easier to identify.
Certainly we can all think of moments in our lives where we made foolish decisions or put our trust in someone that was foolish.
Insert example here?
However, what do we do when someone who appears to be wise is actually the fool?
Proverbs 14:12
12 There is a way that appears to be right,
but in the end it leads to death.
The reason we do foolish things is not because we think it’s foolish, no we think it’s a great idea in the moment!
Insert example.
Thus, the challenge is identifying true wisdom. The challenge is finding those who are truly wise.
So, how do we identify the wise person in our lives?
1. Fear of the Lord (Foundational Posture)
Proverbs 1:7; 9:10
Reverence, awe, and submission to God
Recognizes God as the source of truth and authority
Builds life on God’s ways, not personal opinion
2. Teachable and Humble
Proverbs 9:9; 12:15; 15:31-32
Welcomes correction and instruction
Does not assume they already know everything
Sees rebuke as a pathway to growth
Contrast: The fool rejects correction.
3. Guards Their Words
Proverbs 10:19; 12:18; 15:1; 18:21
Speaks thoughtfully, not impulsively
Uses words to heal, not harm
Practices restraint and careful timing
4. Exercises Self-Control
Proverbs 14:29; 16:32; 25:28
Slow to anger
Controls emotions rather than being controlled by them
Demonstrates discipline in desires and reactions
5. Walks in Righteousness and Integrity
Proverbs 10:9; 11:3; 21:3
Lives uprightly, even when no one is watching
Values honesty over gain
6. Diligent and Hardworking
Proverbs 6:6-11; 10:4; 22:29
Takes initiative and responsibility
Avoids laziness and excuses
Contrast: The sluggard desires but does not act.
7. Seeks Wise Counsel
Proverbs 11:14; 13:20; 15:22
Surrounds themselves with wise people
Invites input before making decisions
Understands the limits of their own perspective
8. Lives with Discernment
Proverbs 14:15; 18:15; 22:3
Thinks ahead and considers consequences
Distinguishes between good, better, and best
Not naive—aware of dangers and avoids them
9. Pursues Peace and Right Relationships
Proverbs 12:20; 17:14; 20:3
Avoids unnecessary conflict
Seeks reconciliation over winning arguments
Values unity and relational health
The reason all of this is so important is because of the warning given to us by Solomon: those who’s companion is a fool, will suffer harm.
20 Walk with the wise and become wise,
for a companion of fools suffers harm.
God doesn’t want us to experience harm.
Not only that, it get’s better! There is a promise embedded within the proverbs for those who identify and surround themselves with the wise: they will become wise.
We are all becoming more or less of something. Thus, it is important to consider what voices we are listening to and who we surround ourselves with.
The other day, I went to grab breakfast with some godly men here at Wooddale. These guys had just went through a new offering we have for men called Men of the Kingdom. That morning I had ordered a waffle and when the waitress brought it out, there was a beautiful slice of butter and a dollop of whip cream on top. Praise God!
Yet as I began to sip my coffee and started into the sausage also on my plate, the butter and whip cream eventually began to melt.
The physical state of and shape of those items began to change. They went from solid to liquid simply because they were in proximity to a hot item - the waffle.
Whether we notice it or not, that which we are in proximity to matters because over time we will change and begin to look different.
Key Insight: Wisdom is transferable through proximity and relationship.
The apostle Paul puts the warning this way:
33 Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
The means to “becoming wise” Prov 13:20. is surrounding yourself with the wise.
When you find the wise, “walk” with them.
“walking” implies an ongoing, habitual direction—not occasional influence.
Who do you “walk” with?
More often the wisdom with which we walk is not found in our relationships but within our pockets. It’s found within our devices, our ever present companion - the phone. This is not a bad tool, it’s just not a good companion.
Do you know what the number 1 use for AI is? Based on a Harvard Research study, the number 1 use of AI is Companionship & Therapy(https://hbr.org/2025/04/how-people-are-really-using-gen-ai-in-2025). Let that sink in, AI is used more for companionship and counsel than it is for information, summarization, production or a whole host of activities.
The challenge we all face is that we will be led not by the Spirit, but by an algorithm, and because it, our discipleship will primarily occur not through relationships but through digital platforms.
Between this Sunday and the next, on average each person in this room will have consumed 49hrs of screen time (https://www.magnetaba.com/blog/average-screen-time-statistics#:~:text=Global%20Screen%20Time%20Overview&text=The%20average%20American%20spends%20approximately,46%20minutes%20on%20mobile%20devices).
Thus, our devices have a more present voice in our lives than the pulpit. But that’s not my primary concern.
My concern is that we have replaced godly companions with ever present devices.
The problem this then creates is it makes it harder to discern what is true, and what information is worthy of application, because what we loose is relational proximity.
Relational proximity with the wise is essential for becoming wise.
Do you know the reason we have the letter of 2 Timothy? Because Paul was imprisoned and had a desire to teach and encourage someone with whom he had great relational proximity despite being separated at the time. Thus he writes to him
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
The purpose of Scripture is not simply to inform but to transform. The purpose of this text is not just information, but wisdom - knowledge applied.
Application
One way to apply God’s word to your life: join a group! study God’s word in the context of community. Doing so allows you to grow in your relationship with Jesus, it protects you from false ideas, and helps provide the support system to live according to God’s word even when life is difficult.
(Mark of Maturity) Commit to Life-Changing Relationships, by doing so you are choosing to walk with the wise.
Application
Evaluate: Who are you consistently “walking” with?
Identify the voices shaping your thinking, values, and decisions.
Big Idea
Big Idea
Your direction in life is deeply shaped by your relationships—wise companions lead to growth; foolish ones lead to destruction.
Expositional Structure
Expositional Structure
1. The Path You Walk Is Not Neutral
1. The Path You Walk Is Not Neutral
“Whoever walks…”
Key Insight: Life is a journey, and
This is about patterns, not moments.
We are always being formed by the people around us.
Supporting Scriptures
Psalm 1:1 — The progression of walking, standing, sitting
1 Corinthians 15:33 — “Bad company corrupts good character”
Application
Evaluate: Who are you consistently “walking” with?
Identify the voices shaping your thinking, values, and decisions.
2. The Promise of Wise Companionship
2. The Promise of Wise Companionship
“…with the wise becomes wise…”
Key Insight: Wisdom is transferable through proximity and relationship.
Biblical wisdom is not just knowledge—it is skill for godly living (Prov. 1:7).
Characteristics of the Wise
Fear the Lord
Live with humility and teachability
Speak truth and pursue righteousness
Application
Pursue intentional relationships with spiritually mature believers.
Place yourself under godly leadership and community.
Ask: Who is sharpening me? (Prov. 27:17)
3. The Warning Against Foolish Companionship
3. The Warning Against Foolish Companionship
“…the companion of fools will suffer harm.”
Key Insight: The danger is not just influence—it is inevitable damage.
“Suffer harm” implies consequences that are often gradual but certain.
Biblical Definition of a Fool
Rejects God’s wisdom (Prov. 1:7)
Lives impulsively and morally carelessly
Despises correction
Supporting Scriptures
Proverbs 14:7 — “Stay away from a fool…”
Proverbs 22:24–25 — Warning against associating with hot-tempered people
Application
Discern relationships that are pulling you away from Christ.
Set boundaries where necessary.
Recognize: proximity leads to participation.
4. The Gospel Lens: Jesus and Our Companionship
4. The Gospel Lens: Jesus and Our Companionship
Jesus is the ultimate wise companion (Col. 2:3).
He walked with sinners—but did not become like them; He transformed them.
Through the gospel, we are brought into a new community (the Church).
Application
Abide in Christ (John 15:4–5) as your primary relationship.
Surround yourself with believers who reflect Christ.
Be intentional not only about who influences you—but who you influence.
Sermon Conclusion
Sermon Conclusion
Your future is not just determined by your decisions—but by your relationships.
Walk with the wise, and you will grow in Christlikeness.
Walk with fools, and you will drift toward destruction.
Call to Action
Identify one wise relationship to pursue this week.
Identify one harmful influence to distance from.
Commit to walking closely with Christ daily.
Intro
Intro
If you could ask God for anything and you knew He would deliver? What would you ask for?
A new car, a new house, a larger salary, a spouse, to make the team, to pass the class? What would it be?
If we knew God was willing to give us whatever we asked for, most of us probably wouldn’t ask for wisdom. Why? because we value other things more.
Yet Solomon, asked God for wisdom and it was given to him. In proverbs 16:16 he says,
16 How much better to get wisdom than gold,
to get insight rather than silver!
How do we get wisdom? where does it come from? How do we find it?
20 Walk with the wise and become wise,
for a companion of fools suffers harm.
Education by friendship
Education by friendship
Compare and Contrast Rehoboam’s advisory counsel wise vs unwise
who’s your source of counsel? When you face a life decision or dilemma is God and God’s people the first person you go to? Or are we more quick to run to ChatGPT or a instagram reel or a YT video?
The other day, I was trying to set up a baptismal for our baptism service at The Avenue, and I had forgotten one of the steps, so i pulled up a YT video on how to do it.
When we are in search of wisdom, the search engine is often our first source of information. This is not bad, but if it replaces God’s Word and the wisdom that comes from godly people in our lives it can be dangerous.
Wisdom vs Knowledge
Knowledge is based on information
Wisdom is knowledge applied, skillfull living
Digital discipleship?
Importance of Biblical community & God’s sources
Problem: religious individualism
Source of Epistemolgy: internal not external
HOW DO YOU SUBSTANTIATE THE FRUIT OF THEIR TEACHING IF YOU ONLY HAVE A DIGITAL RELATIOSNSHIP?
when V and I were dating, she requested that we be in the same place/state for a season - that’s wise - her rationale was that it was “too easy for me to fake it and be someone i’m not over text or in a weekend visit”.
Commit to Life-Changing Relationships it protects us from false doctrine and from foolish paths.
12 There is a way that appears to be right,
but in the end it leads to death.
The way we avoid the path of death is by walking with the wise Prov 13:20
20 Walk with the wise and become wise,
for a companion of fools suffers harm.
IF SOLOMON HAD A SMARTPHONE, HE WOULD NOT ALLOW THE INFORMATION HE CAN FIND ON IT, TO BE HIS PRIMARY SOURCE OF WISDOM AND COUNSEL
If Solomon had a smartphone he would use it for knowledge, not wisdom. He would use it as a means to access information, not instruction on how to live.
The difference between knowledge and wisdom is that wisdom is knowledge applied.
33 Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
Godly people are essential in our lives we see this in Paul & Timothy
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
The book of Proverbs presents wisdom not merely as intelligence, but as skillful, God-centered living. A “wise person” is shaped in both character and conduct. Here are the key characteristics that consistently emerge:
1. Fear of the Lord (Foundational Posture)
1. Fear of the Lord (Foundational Posture)
Proverbs 1:7; 9:10
Reverence, awe, and submission to God
Recognizes God as the source of truth and authority
Builds life on God’s ways, not personal opinion
Summary: Wisdom begins with right relationship to God.
2. Teachable and Humble
2. Teachable and Humble
Proverbs 9:9; 12:15; 15:31-32
Welcomes correction and instruction
Does not assume they already know everything
Sees rebuke as a pathway to growth
Contrast: The fool rejects correction.
3. Guards Their Words
3. Guards Their Words
Proverbs 10:19; 12:18; 15:1; 18:21
Speaks thoughtfully, not impulsively
Uses words to heal, not harm
Practices restraint and careful timing
Summary: Wisdom shows up clearly in how a person talks.
4. Exercises Self-Control
4. Exercises Self-Control
Proverbs 14:29; 16:32; 25:28
Slow to anger
Controls emotions rather than being controlled by them
Demonstrates discipline in desires and reactions
Image: A life with walls—protected and ordered.
5. Walks in Righteousness and Integrity
5. Walks in Righteousness and Integrity
Proverbs 10:9; 11:3; 21:3
Lives uprightly, even when no one is watching
Values honesty over gain
Chooses what is right, not just what is beneficial
6. Diligent and Hardworking
6. Diligent and Hardworking
Proverbs 6:6-11; 10:4; 22:29
Takes initiative and responsibility
Avoids laziness and excuses
Understands that effort over time produces fruit
Contrast: The sluggard desires but does not act.
7. Seeks Wise Counsel
7. Seeks Wise Counsel
Proverbs 11:14; 13:20; 15:22
Surrounds themselves with wise people
Invites input before making decisions
Understands the limits of their own perspective
8. Lives with Discernment
8. Lives with Discernment
Proverbs 14:15; 18:15; 22:3
Thinks ahead and considers consequences
Distinguishes between good, better, and best
Not naive—aware of dangers and avoids them
9. Practices Generosity and Justice
9. Practices Generosity and Justice
Proverbs 11:25; 14:31; 21:13
Cares for the poor and vulnerable
Uses resources to bless others
Sees generosity as integral, not optional
10. Pursues Peace and Right Relationships
10. Pursues Peace and Right Relationships
Proverbs 12:20; 17:14; 20:3
Avoids unnecessary conflict
Seeks reconciliation over winning arguments
Values unity and relational health
11. Desires Wisdom and Continues Growing
11. Desires Wisdom and Continues Growing
Proverbs 2:1-5; 4:7
Actively seeks wisdom like treasure
Remains a lifelong learner
Prioritizes wisdom above success, wealth, or status
Summary Statement
Summary Statement
A wise person, according to Proverbs, is someone who fears God, listens well, lives rightly, speaks carefully, works diligently, and walks humbly with others in pursuit of what is good.
Teaching Insight (for your context)
Teaching Insight (for your context)
If you’re framing this for a sermon or group:
You could organize it into three movements:
Right Relationship with God (fear of the Lord)
Right Character Within (humility, self-control, integrity)
Right Conduct Toward Others (speech, relationships, generosity)
This keeps wisdom from feeling abstract and shows how it touches every dimension of life.
A helpful way to frame this is to see a major shift in where authority for knowing is located—from received and revealed truth to independent human reasoning and empirical verification.
1. Epistemology Before the Enlightenment
1. Epistemology Before the Enlightenment
(Pre-modern / Classical & Medieval)
Primary Sources of Knowledge
Primary Sources of Knowledge
Divine Revelation (Scripture as ultimate authority)
Tradition (church teaching, historical continuity)
Authority (theologians, church leaders, classical philosophers)
Reason (used, but subordinate to revelation)
Epistemology before the Enlightenment
Epistemology before the Enlightenment
1. Knowledge is Received
1. Knowledge is Received
Truth is something given, not constructed
Rooted in God as the source of all knowledge
Proverbs connection:
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge” (Prov. 1:7)
2. Integration of Faith and Reason
2. Integration of Faith and Reason
Thinkers like Augustine of Hippo and Thomas Aquinas saw reason as:
A tool to understand revelation
Not a replacement for it
3. Objective and Ordered Reality
3. Objective and Ordered Reality
Truth is fixed, external, and grounded in God’s nature
The universe is meaningful because it is created by God
4. Communal and Ecclesial
4. Communal and Ecclesial
Knowledge is discerned within a community of faith
The Church plays a central interpretive role
Summary (Pre-Enlightenment)
Summary (Pre-Enlightenment)
“I believe in order to understand.”
Knowledge begins with God and flows downward to humanity.
2. Epistemology After the Enlightenment
2. Epistemology After the Enlightenment
(Modern period, 17th–18th century onward)
Primary Sources of Knowledge
Primary Sources of Knowledge
Human Reason (autonomous thinking)
Empirical Observation (science, experimentation)
Skepticism of Authority (tradition questioned)
Key Characteristics
Key Characteristics
1. Knowledge is Discovered or Constructed
1. Knowledge is Discovered or Constructed
Truth is something we arrive at through method
Shift from receiving truth → determining truth
2. Rise of Rationalism and Empiricism
2. Rise of Rationalism and Empiricism
René Descartes: “I think, therefore I am” → certainty begins with the self
John Locke: knowledge comes through experience
David Hume: skepticism about certainty and causation
3. Suspicion of Revelation and Tradition
3. Suspicion of Revelation and Tradition
Scripture and church authority are no longer assumed to be reliable sources of knowledge
Religion becomes one voice among many, not the foundation
4. Individualism in Knowing
4. Individualism in Knowing
The individual becomes the primary knower
Authority shifts from God → human subject
5. Fragmentation of Truth
5. Fragmentation of Truth
Movement toward:
Scientific truth
Personal truth
Cultural perspectives
Sets the stage for later postmodern relativism
Summary (Post-Enlightenment)
Summary (Post-Enlightenment)
“I think in order to know.”
Knowledge begins with the human mind and works outward.
3. Key Contrasts (Side-by-Side)
3. Key Contrasts (Side-by-Side)
CategoryPre-EnlightenmentPost-EnlightenmentStarting PointGod / RevelationHuman reason / selfAuthorityScripture & TraditionIndividual & scienceNature of TruthObjective, fixedInvestigated, sometimes provisionalRole of ReasonServant of faithMaster of inquiryCommunity vs IndividualCommunal discernmentIndividual autonomyView of ScriptureFoundationalQuestioned or relativized
4. Pastoral & Theological Implications
4. Pastoral & Theological Implications
1. The Shift Explains Modern Tensions
1. The Shift Explains Modern Tensions
Many people today:
Trust science over Scripture
Value personal experience over divine authority
Approach truth as self-determined
This is not neutral—it is inherited from Enlightenment assumptions.
2. Proverbs Pushes Back on Enlightenment Autonomy
2. Proverbs Pushes Back on Enlightenment Autonomy
The wisdom tradition consistently teaches:
Knowledge is not self-generated
Wisdom begins with submission, not independence
Proverbs 3:5–6 directly confronts Enlightenment thinking:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding…”
3. Ministry Application
3. Ministry Application
When discipling or preaching, you’re often addressing two competing epistemologies:
The Cultural Default:
The Cultural Default:
“I decide what’s true.”
The Biblical Call:
The Biblical Call:
“God reveals what is true.”
Wise ministry helps people:
Recognize this shift
Re-anchor their trust in God’s revealed wisdom
5. Framing for Teaching
5. Framing for Teaching
You could summarize the contrast in one line:
Pre-Enlightenment: Truth is revealed and received
Post-Enlightenment: Truth is discovered and determined
Or even more simply:
Then: “God defines reality.”
Now: “We define reality.”
If you want, I can help you turn this into a sermon illustration, small group discussion, or a teaching framework tied directly into Proverbs or your current series.
