Why is there a price in the hand of a fool
to buy wisdom,
when he has no sense?

Proverbs 17:16

“A fool and his money are soon parted.” This exact phrase is not found in the Bible though money management principles are found throughout God’s Word. We will let Dave Ramsey handle all those topics. At first glance our verse today looks like it is about money and it can be seen in that way and is quite true. 

But our verse for today is actually using a clever play on words; we might call it a pun.

We know wisdom cannot be bought with cash or credit card or bitcoin. But if it could, our verse is saying, a fool would not even be able to buy it, because he has no sense; or no cents, ie; no money  enough to buy any wisdom. Why? Because a fool doesn’t have any sense in handling money, so even if wisdom could be bought, a fool would never save enough. And old saying captures this picture well, “A fool has holes in his pocket.” Wisdom is simply out of the fool’s reach. Again, a harsh assessment from God concerning fools.

God does not create fools! People choose to be fools and to remain so! As we have seen before, it starts with the fool believing, “There is no God.” (Psalm 53:1) Here are some of God’s responses to the fool!

From David, the Shepherd King

Psalm 92:5-6

O LORD, what great works you do! And how deep are your thoughts. Only a simpleton would not know, and only a fool would not understand this. [NLT]

Psalm 94:8-10

Think again, you fools! When will you finally catch on? Is He deaf—the one who made your ears? Is He blind—the one who formed your eyes? He punishes the nations—won’t He also punish you? He knows everything—doesn’t He also know what you are doing?

Solomon adds his own even more poignant description.

Ecclesiastes 5:4

When you make a vow to God, do not be late in paying it; for He takes no delight in fools. Pay what you vow!

Ecclesiastes 10:1

Dead flies make a perfumer’s oil stink, so a little foolishness is weightier than wisdom and honor.

We will do well to remove all foolish notions of trying to put God in any kind of little “g” god box! The God of the Universe doesn’t fit nor will He be ignored.