Are You Confused About Life?

This is the question of the day. Are you confused about life? In The Message, in Proverbs 9, two very different personas ask this same question.

First Lady Wisdom calls the question out. In verse 3 – 4 it says,

“Lady Wisdom goes to town, stands in a prominent place,
    and invites everyone within sound of her voice:
‘Are you confused about life, don’t know what’s going on?

    Come with me, oh come, have dinner with me!’”

Lady Wisdom seeks out all who will listen to her. In verse 6 it tells us what she has to offer those who listen to her voice and pays attention to her:

“’Leave your impoverished confusion and live!
    Walk up the street to a life with meaning.’”

Meaning. Purpose. A reason to live. A life with meaning. That’s what Lady Wisdom has to offer those who listen to her. She promises a reason to live.

Also found in Proverbs 9 is Madame Whore calling out the same question [verses 14 – 16]:

“She sits on the front porch
    of her house on Main Street,
And as people walk by minding
    their own business, calls out,
‘Are you confused about life, don’t know what’s going on?
    Steal off with me, I’ll show you a good time!’”

She asks the same question but from a position of lying in wait for the unsuspecting passerby. And what does she have to offer the person who listens to Madame Whore? A good time. Probably a short-lived good time. Passing pleasure. No long term meaning for living that Lady Wisdom has to offer.

So the same question is asked by Good and Evil. The results are drastically different. One offers a purpose-filled life and the other offers temporary pleasure. What do I really want? I want a meaningful, purposeful life. I’ll get that by listening to Lady Wisdom.