When Solomon penned the book of Proverbs he certainly was used by God to express wisdom.  Near the conclusion of what we know as the first chapter of the book of Proverbs, Solomon writes having wisdom speaking to us.  In effect, he personified wisdom.  The personification of wisdom took on a feminine gender (1:20).  In this context she asks: “How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge” (Proverbs 1:22)?  Just a little research of the terms that are translated “simple” and “simplicity” reveals that those terms mean “naïve” (Brown, Driver, Briggs Hebrews Lexicon).  Wisdom wanted to know how long people would desire to be naïve.

     For someone to desire to be deficient of wisdom or informed judgment is a sad state.  Some people like that state of being because they like ignorance.  They believe this will alleviate them from having to take certain actions or to look at the world the way it is.  Young children are naïve in that they do not know “the ways of this world”.  They really have no concept of many dangers and consequences regarding many different areas of life.  Mature individuals that are naïve are such by way of choice.  They reject wisdom and the knowledge of the right ways for if they acknowledge what is right they also have to acknowledge what is wrong.  Many Christians of our day have chosen to be naïve.  They choose to be naïve so that they do not have to deal with certain aspects of a Christian’s life.  It is sad.

     Many of our brethren choose to be naïve when it comes to dealing with problems in the local church.  Who likes confrontation?  Really, no one does.  Confrontation is unpleasant.  Yet, we must confront sin (Ezekiel 3:17ff.).  This often brings about confrontation.  Sometimes we need to ask others why they perceive us to be enemies when we are only telling them the truth (Galatians 4:16).  Still yet, we must still earnestly contend for the faith (Jude 3).  We must be set for the defense of the Gospel (Philippians 1:17).  We must fight the good fight of faith (I Timothy 6:12).  We must stand while wearing the whole armor of God and using it to defend ourselves from the devices of the devil (Ephesians 6:10-17).  This means we will face certain confrontation at times.

     Sometimes brethren choose to either be, or act naïve to avoid these problems.  They ignore the sinful actions of brethren to remove the responsibility of dealing with those problems.  If someone is lacking in attendance, brethren too often look the other way acting as though they don’t notice.  If a brother or sister in Christ is backbiting, brethren too often act as though they don’t realize.  If a brother or sister in Christ is smoking tobacco, brethren too often overlook it.  All of these things are sinful (Hebrews 10:25, II Corinthians 12:20, Romans 12:1, etc).  Since those things are sinful, why do brethren often act naïve in pretending not to know about them?

     Many issues could be named.  Many quotes could be given.  Still yet, we have the general problem that brethren like to either be, or act, naïve when it comes to sin within the local congregation.  Paul warned the brethren in Rome that those who are divisive and those who are offenders of the truth can deceive the simple [naïve].  Notice what Paul said: “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.  For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple” (Romans 16:17-18). Brethren, if we act or are naïve, we make ourselves easy for the picking of those who are doing the bidding of evil.

     Solomon said: “The simple believeth every word…” (Proverbs 14:15).  He then later penned: “A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished” (Proverbs 22:3).  Being naïve is not wise.  We need to be aware of what is right and wrong.  We need to be aware of those who are bringing that which is right opposed to that which is wrong.  John warned: “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world” (I John 4:1).  Brethren who choose to be naïve do not heed the warning of John.  They are open armed and overly trusting.

    The workers of the wicked one are disguised as the faithful (Matthew 7:15).  If we become trusting and believing of all things that are said to us, we are setting ourselves up for a sure fall.  Moreover, a congregation that will allow themselves to be so trusting will soon find that those in error are in control of that congregation.  It is right to be reserved when it comes to our fellowship with other brethren.  We must make sure they are who they claim to be.

     Paul warned: “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ” (II Corinthians 11:3).  Truth is very easy and clear to see.  The devil is the one who is always trying to “muddy the waters” so to speak (II Corinthians 4:3-4).  If we are naïve, his task is that much easier.  We can become just like Eve who believed all that Satan told her.  She partook of the fruit which the Lord commanded her not to partake of and she also got her husband to partake as well (Genesis 3:1ff.).  Can we learn from Eve not to be so naïve?  Will we too partake in those things which God has not authorized because we allow ourselves to be fooled?

     Some brethren are naïve of evil because they simply do not know enough of God’s word to make the distinction (Hebrews 5:14).  If we will be seeking to expose darkness, we must first know what the true light is.  Satan sends forth his messengers and they seem to be messengers of light.  They are false to the core, but that is not obvious from just the outward appearance (II Corinthians 11:12-15).

     To have true wisdom, we must go to God and His word (Proverbs 3:1-7).  If we obtain knowledge of the truth and understand how to apply it, we then can use it.  Consider that the word of God is part of our spiritual armor.  The word of God is the sword of the spirit (Ephesians 6:17).  Sadly, many brethren put on the armor of God and are unskillful in using it.  They then enter into battle to defend what is the right way, finding that their armor is taken and used against them (cf. Luke 11:22).  Yet, those who choose not to be naïve find the word of God a source of strength and an undefeatable tool against sin (Psalms 119:114-116).  True wisdom is from God above (James 3:13-18).  Let’s use it to be fully equipped unto every good work (II Timothy 3:16-17).

     We should answer wisdom’s question about how long we will love to be naïve, as not very long dear wisdom.  We can know right from wrong.  We can properly use that knowledge to please the Lord.  We know that ignorance is not bliss (Hosea 4:1-6).

      If we choose to remain naïve and run from wisdom there will be a price to pay.  In conclusion, see how the context of our opening text continues: “Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.  Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.  Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord: They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.  Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.  For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.  But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil” (Proverbs 1:23-33).