Recently, I got a direct message on my Instagram page from a company that apparently sells followers and likes.
I really don’t know how these guys do it, but they must have been monitoring my posts on social media. They knew I had just published a book. They knew I often posted inspiring content so they reckoned I would be hungry for followers, likes and views.
In their words, “We’d love to help you boost your followers and page activities (likes and views) and expand your reach on Instagram.” See how noble they made that sound? Expand your reach. How seductive.
They continued, “We sell followers based on your order, as well as likes and views at an affordable rate…”
Let me not bore you with the rest of the message.
This whole thing got me thinking.
How did we arrive here as a generation? How did we get to the point where we’re so hungry for fame that we’ll go ahead and buy fake followers? What exactly is the point of all this craziness? What is driving it? What’s the catch? Where exactly does this road lead?
I’ll never understand why anyone would think I need to purchase followers to speak the words that God has put in my mouth – to boost my ego? Because it’s certainly not for God’s glory!
What really gets me about the whole situation is how this ridiculousness is masked in the cloak of false nobility.
Two days ago, on our mastermind group, we had a discussion about the seductress mentioned in Proverbs 7 (and indeed other chapters) and we all agreed that in our day, the seductress represents more than a lure into illicit sex.
As one of my sisters rightly listed – ambition, position, “slay-age” (aka pepper them), the need to be seen, heard and validated by the world at any cost; all of these represent the boisterous and brash voice of the seductress – and it’s a spirit unleashed on our generation by the god of this world.
In The Passion Translation (TPT), Proverbs 9:13 refers to this seductress as the spirit named Foolish! This is certainly not a mere play on words. It’s highly instructive and loaded with insight.
Just yesterday we were praying for an impartation of the spirit of wisdom. Today, we see clearly that there is a spirit of foolishness that we need to consciously contend with.
It is no secret that the spirit of foolishness operating in our generation is in many ways like the seductress – alluring, deceptive, manipulative and ultimately, destructive.
One of the most instructive things that Proverbs 9 reveals to us is how this spirit of folly is clearly a twisted mirror image of wisdom.
Look at this:
“Come in with me,” she urges the simple.
To those who lack good judgment, she says,
“Come , eat my food, and drink the wine I have mixed. Leave your simple ways behind and begin to live; learn to use good judgment.”
Proverbs 9:4-6 (NLT)
Here, we see wisdom calling out to the simple (those that lack sense) from the heights overlooking the city.
In the same way, the spirit of foolishness calls out to the simple.
In this context, their target audience (the simple) is one and the same, and so this foolish spirit from the wicked one attempts to adopt, and seeks to pervert the very same strategy of wisdom.
“Come in with me,” she urges the simple.
To those who lack judgment, she says,
“Stolen water is refreshing; food eaten in secret tastes best!”
proverbs 9:16-17 (NLT)
Do you see how twisted this spirit is?
No one will really know you paid for followers. It’s really not a big deal. It’s for the furtherance of your ministry and management of your brand perception. You actually need this.
Although this was not in the least bit a temptation for me, I use this example in an attempt to help you really see how folly sometimes tries to mask itself as wisdom.
She makes herself sound like the truth – like the real deal, like she’s after your wellbeing and growth.
Remember her from Proverbs 7? She makes sacrifices and pays her vows! She sounds religious. She can speak a little bit of Christian – just enough to get you confused and trapped.
Dear one, this is where discernment – a natural product of wisdom – becomes paramount! I see very clearly why Solomon urges us to “cry out for discernment” in Proverbs 2:3
Discernment is what will help you tell wisdom apart from folly when those lines become blurred.
Discernment is what will help you see that even though that open door looks good, what it really leads to is destruction.
Discernment will help you see beyond the natural, into the realm of the spirit so that you can make decisions that will guide you on the path of life.
The spirit of foolishness is a perversion of the spirit of wisdom – and it takes spiritual intelligence to see that.
People, we do not war after the flesh. The battle for our generation is a spiritual one.
Today, I want us to stand as spokesmen for, and watchmen keeping watch over our generation and take authority over that lying spirit of foolishness!
Secondly, I want us to cry out to God for an outpouring of the spirit of discernment, because even the best of us are still human and can fall into error if discernment isn’t operating in our lives.
Please spend some time interceding as well as praying for yourself today!
What insights did you receive as you studied Proverbs 9 today?