Don’t Be A Fool – Avoid Debauchery But Instead Seek Righteousness
Word-of-the-Day: ‘Why should fools have money in hand to buy wisdom, when they are not able to understand it?’ (Proverbs 17:16); ‘Whoever strays from the path of prudence comes to rest in the company of the dead.’ (Proverbs 21:16)
Whenever we see places with high crime rates or open forms of debauchery, such as the drug sales and drug abusers of Philadelphia’s Kensington neighborhood or the roving gangs of Chicago’s south side, the blight of the New York’s southern Bronx borough, or the sex trades open in the ‘seedy parts’ of many of America’s metropolitan areas, we see broken people who got into this position through poor decision-making, mostly by having little education taught to them in schools or by their parents. It is not only a lack of scholastic or skills education but the education of morality and critical-thinking.
Why do people gravitate to crime and debauchery? Obviously, it is the attraction to sin that is inherent in all people, including Adam and Eve at the very beginning in Genesis 3, as temptation gives way to self-gratifying actions in lieu of Godly, Righteous behavior. In Adam and Eve’s case, and as in the case of all who Believe in Jesus, and in Faith with Him, this is in spite of us knowing God’s will and precepts, all of His Commandments, warnings, and listings of consequences that we face when we disobey.
For most Believers, when we sin, we have the Holy Spirit and the Word to be convicted of our wrongdoing and try to make amends for violating the covenant we made with Jesus by repenting and seeking His forgiveness. This doesn’t mean we don’t slip down into the depths of addiction, sexual immorality, or other crimes, but the Christian at some point realizes their wrongdoing through the communications of the Holy Spirit, and will attempt to seek redemption through the strength of Jesus and remove themselves from their sinful activities. The Christian will often (but unfortunately not always) stop before they go too far down the path of physical destruction.
But for the person without God, who doesn’t have the Holy Spirit or the knowledge of the Word, how do they escape their sin? We look in Proverbs, and throughout the Bible, and see many statements that provide why we fall into sin and our sinful nature. The lack of education in terms of scholastic knowledge and skills plays a part. Not all are given the knowledge or insight that drugs kill, illicit actions harm the body, and seeking thrills or leading a prudent, steady life can prolong it, as stated in Proverbs 21:16.
Crime, unlike the slogan, can pay; but what does the windfall of money buy the criminal? Money earned in the commission of crimes and sinful activities without consequences are seen as a reward and a promotion for the bad behavior. Proverbs 17:16 provides the answer why many criminals don’t give up crime, even after becoming rich from their evil-doing; how can such a person gain wisdom when they don’t understand what wisdom is, or who provides it? If all a criminal sees in life is crime, and is never taught Biblical Truths, morals, or actions, it shouldn’t surprise us to see crime as a rewarding enterprise. They use their talents toward the accomplishment of evil goals, and not using them for a beneficial trade.
While criminals can attack those unwillingly, the home break-ins, carjacking, and robberies and murders of the innocent on city streets; there are also those who seek criminal enterprises to feed their own self-gratifying desires. The drug users who roam the streets seek the distributors, the perverted seek the people and places to satisfy their debauchery. They also have money but foolishly spend it on selfish desires and not to build up the Kingdom of God or to pay their debts or their needs. There are those who repeat acts of self-destruction, and once there, continue acts to stay in that condition. It is because they do not have the education or knowledge to understand there is a better way.
It begins with ensuring children know and understand their need for Christ, to show them the environment that they are in, whether in a crime-ridden slum or a wealthy suburb of McMansions, that there is a way that is not destructive but constructive and uplifting. It is beneficial to the child and to society as a whole to teach our children Righteousness. Not all will stay on the path, but will know when they stray off of it and will usually try to get back on it, or at least stay within its sight. It is better for the child to learn morality and educational staples early, and skills as they grow so they become productive members of society rather than a drag upon it.
What of the adults, though, who did not have Righteous parents, or a school that taught basic skills and foundational educational staples? Fortunately, it is never too late for anyone to learn the precepts of Jesus. The power of our Savior can change the hearts and minds of those who are debased and of the reprobate mind. Those in ruin realize, at some point, there must be a better way, that their destructive behaviors brought them to this point in their lives. If they remain in ignorance, it can mean to them the belief there is no way out. But when they are given the opportunity that Jesus provides, the Hope in Him of an eternity of sinless peace and Spiritual prosperity through serving Him, it can be life-changing.
The fool thinks money is the best currency, but the Righteous know the best currency is the Word of the Lord, and is best given away through our witnessing than in hoarding it. The fool thinks expanding their own greedy enterprise is best, but the Christian knows expanding the Kingdom of God is far better for all involved. If you want society to improve, for crime to ebb and Righteousness to prevail, share the Word with others so they understand Him and His ways, so they don’t have to rely on the false promises of what the world offers.
