What does Proverbs 3:35 mean?

Wisdom leads to honor, whereas foolishness leads to disgrace. In Proverbs, "wisdom" is the ability to act according to godly knowledge. "Foolishness" does not mean stupidity, or a lack of information. Rather, "fools" are closedminded, stubborn, arrogant, hardened to spiritual truth, and they ridicule godly perspectives. These consequences of godliness versus foolishness are generally true in earthly life (Proverbs 3:31; Psalm 73:16–20), but they are absolutely the case in eternity.

Philippians 3:18 describes many who despise spiritual truth as enemies of the cross of Christ. The following verse says plainly, "their end is destruction" (Philippians 3:19). Someday, all who are foolish in God's sight will end up like the rich farmer who put his confidence in material possessions instead of in God. When he boasted that he could eat, drink, and be merry because he had so many goods stored up, God called him a fool and required his soul that very night (Luke 12:20).

The wise, by contrast, are those who trust in God and do His will. They will receive honor. The apostle Paul, for example, obeyed God's will and looked forward to receiving the crown of righteousness (2 Timothy 4:8). He added in the same verse that the crown of righteousness would also be awarded to all who have loved Jesus' appearing. Fools have nothing to gain but everything to lose, whereas the wise have nothing to lose but everything to gain!