²²“How long, O naive ones, will you love being simple-minded? and scoffers delight themselves in scoffing and fools hate knowledge? ²³Turn to my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you ²⁴Because I called and you refused, I stretched out my hand and no one paid attention …”

Although wisdom is readily available just for the asking, many people reject living wisely—our passage zeroes in on three typical responses. The first is the naïve individual. For him, life is uncomplicated, at least in his choices. Earlier we read that one of the goals of wisdom is “to give prudence to the naïve, to the youth knowledge and discretion” (Prov. 1:4). The word translated “prudence” can also be rendered “shrewdness” (NASB) or “subtlety” (NKJV). It means to think clearly and to be able to evaluate the best course of action, all things considered.

Notice the connection between a naïve individual and a youth. An infant is like a blank slate, empty of knowledge. From the earliest stages, the propensity arises in the little brain to sort out the stimuli coming at him through the natural senses of sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell. Initially, the order of his universe takes shape automatically, like discovering that he can control the movement of his hand in front of his face. In time, this ordering of life moves to the development of emotions and the ability to make choices.

The development of wisdom comes through external stimuli. He observes and contemplates his interactions in and with the world, based on a sort of cost-benefit analysis. In other words, he makes choices based on the most rudimentary desire to order his life around what is best or most beneficial to himself. However, considered teaching of wisdom must enter in to overcome the natural self-interest that distorts a child’s thinking, which leads to selfish, self-destructive ends. At this juncture, a youth makes a choice.

Wisdom is generally available by keenly and reflectively observing life. But, it is learned more specifically through parental training and Scripture revelation. Much better when all of these areas align. However, the choice remains the youth’s.

Naivete is the state of not having gained knowledge. With a child, naivete is understandable and to be expected. In that case, the term naïve is not negative. The slate is simply clean and not yet filled up with knowledge. A child is unable to think through the pros and cons of different courses of action, to think astutely about complicated human interactions. The capability is just not there.

But, at a certain point, there is no longer any excuse of youthfulness for remaining ignorant. The capability for responding to and embracing wisdom comes as a child grows, and he should no longer be content with naivete. It is not that a naive person scoffs at wisdom or hates knowledge, but he simply rejects it, as we might say, without malice. To remain naïve becomes negative.

So, why would someone want to willfully remain naive? It is not necessarily that they scoff at wisdom or hate it; instead, they love being simple-minded. On one level (superficial as it may be), simple-mindedness takes less effort than pursuing wisdom because one simply cordons off his mind to the hard work of thinking and acting wisely. It is the least complicated framework for seeing and ordering life. It is the easiest way of thinking because it only needs to ask the question, “What is the immediate benefit to me, at this moment, in this situation?” For example, it is easier to ignore someone who lashed out in anger against me and dismiss him as being a sinful person, rather than to consider wisely the context in which the display of anger occurred, the insensitive things I might have said, and the fact (had I sufficiently considered things) that the person had just received news of a cancer diagnosis. It is easier to simply say he is a sinner who can’t control his anger.

Simple-mindedness can be seen in passivity, commitment to self-pleasure, avoidance of conflict at all costs, being a people pleaser, and the list goes on. Simple-mindedness rejects wisdom because living for oneself is a much easier way of life.

As the book of Proverbs unfolds, we will see that naivete comes with an enormous, detrimental cost.

Lord, show me areas of my thoughts where I am holding on to simple-mindedness; help me understand why, at times, I fear wisdom and therefore reject it.