Suppose you are walking through a neighborhood with many houses, and each of these houses is occupied by different sorts of people. As you walk along the sidewalk you can see through the front windows and witness whatever they are doing side, like eating dinner, watching television, or doing chores.
Now suppose you pass by a certain house and immediately you can tell something is wrong. First, the house is surrounded by a crowd of people, each of them pressing closely like concertgoers to a stage, clamoring to get a better view inside the windows of the house. Curious, you draw near to figure out what draws their interest.
Inside the kitchen window is a couple arguing with one another. They are throwing dishes and food and loudly shouting the vilest of obscenities at one another. Small children are crying in a nearby corner. The crowds don’t seem bothered by the strife. In fact, most of them find it amusing or downright hilarious. Others have chosen sides and have started to argue with one another.
Inside the bedroom window are several people engaged in several forms of sexual immorality. Describing what was happening inside would defile the English language and the hearts of both the speaker and the listener. The crowd here isn’t so much amused or angered as they are aroused at the abominable scene. One is forced to step over and around viewers who have begun to imitate what is happening within.
The living room window, which is open to the outside, reveals what can only be described as unbridled madness. Inside are people doing all manner of tricks, stunts, and senseless acts of lunacy, all the while begging their viewers to “egg them on” by way of thumbs-up or financial donations. Many outside this window dig for coins and bills, throwing them into the room, encouraging those inside to do more. Others are jealous and begin to show off in ways that garner the attention of those nearby.
The windows keep going around the home in like fashion. All reveal people doing different things that draw different people, but they all have something in common: None of it pleases God. None of it edifies the godly person. You can’t imagine Jesus among the crowds at any of these windows. None of it is wise.
Question: Should a Christian spend time peering inside any of these windows? Is this a house a Christian should frequent or avoid?
The internet is a digital neighborhood with many houses, and we see what is happening inside by way of the “windows” or browsing on screens. Some of these houses are perfectly acceptable to approach and view whatever is happening inside, like those occupied by mechanics fixing cars, personal chefs demonstrating their best recipes, or pet owners with the most adorable dogs you’ve ever seen. Other houses are occupied by the foolishness of wickedness in every imaginable form. Their occupants are skilled at drawing crowds of viewers which inevitably become participants. What you view is what you inevitably do.
Proverbs 1-9 is built upon the contrast between Wisdom and Folly, both portrayed by Solomon as potential female companions to his sons. Wisdom is portrayed as a precious bride and companion who blesses her husband (3.13-18; 4.6-9; 5.17-19; 8.17; etc.), while her alternative Folly/foolishness is portrayed as the strange woman or the adulteress who destroys him (2.16-19; 5.3-23; etc.). Proverbs 9 concludes Solomon’s contrast of Wisdom and Folly with both calling for people should turn into their dwelling places: “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here.” (9.4; 9.16). Those who enter the home of Wisdom are taught “the way of insight” founded upon a central premise: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.” (9.10). However, the home of Folly, though she is seductive and incentivizes that which is forbidden, hides a dark secret: “But he does not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.” (9.18)
The next time you visit the internet “neighborhood”, before you spend time peering into the “windows”, ask yourself one question: Who lives here: Wisdom, or Folly?
If Jesus would not stand at the window with you and watch, flee from that house and never return.
“And now, O sons, listen to me, and do not depart from the words of my mouth.
Keep your way far from her, and do not go near the door of her house” (Prov. 5.7-8)
Kyle Sanders
Kyle has been preaching since 2016 in Chiefland, Florida and Clinton, Mississippi before coming to work with the Jamestown church of Christ in 2021. Before preaching, he spent several years as a high school mathematics teacher in Indiana, Kentucky, and Florida. Kyle is a teacher at heart and brings his love of studying and interacting with students into his preaching and teaching efforts. He and his wife, a native Hoosier, have been blessed with five children, two dogs, a full house and zero leftovers.