Reading With the People of God #14 Proverbsنموونە

What Voices Do You Listen To?

"Does not wisdom call? Does not understanding raise her voice?" – Proverbs 8:1 (ESV)

"This 'knowledge' puffs up, but love builds up." – 1 Corinthians 8:1b (ESV)

Every day, we are surrounded by voices. Some shout. Some whisper. Some promise freedom. Others stir fear. Some flatter the ego, while others challenge the soul. Most will corrupt your soul, wooing you away from your Savior.

The question is not whether voices speak—it's which ones you listen to.

In Proverbs 8, we hear the voice of Wisdom, personified, crying out—not in a hidden place, but in the open, where life happens:

“On the heights beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand.” (v.2)

Wisdom isn’t passive. She lifts her voice where decisions are made—at gates, paths, and crossroads. Her call is honest, righteous, and life-giving. But other voices compete with her beautiful voice: pride, foolishness, self-reliance, the world’s noise. These voices have their own appeal. The danger isn’t just in hearing the wrong voices but in letting them guide your steps.

Which voices do you attend to?

In 1 Corinthians 8, Paul addresses another voice—the voice of pride disguised as knowledge. Some believers in Corinth knew that idols were nothing, and they used that knowledge as justification to do what they pleased. But Paul challenges them:

Just because you know something doesn’t mean you’re being wise.

The voice of love must be louder than the voice of liberty. The voice of humility must override the voice of self. Wisdom herself will guide you to love, faith, to words and actions that honor Jesus while blessing your brothers and sisters.

What you listen to shapes how you live. What voices do you allow in? Where do you get your wisdom, the Word or the world, the Truth or TikTok, the Spirit or social media, the Father or Facebook?

The voice of wisdom is still calling today. Not in a whisper, but loud and clear, standing at the crossroads of your life.

*Primer contributed by Doug Drainville, Pastor of Care, Cornerstone Community Church of Chowchilla