Not many folks have ever played a sport out of spite, regret or disinterest. Most play a sport because they find a thrill, joy and true pleasure in doing so. How interesting that God uses the word “sport” in the book of Proverbs in a similar way—to describe something in which a person finds thrill, joy and true pleasure.
God says, “To do evil is like a sport to a fool” (Prov. 10:23). Who treats “evil” or “wickedness” (NASB) or “doing wrong” (ESV) as a sport to be enjoyed? Is there any time that such could describe me? God says that person is a “fool”!
But, consider the second part of the verse. Hebrew parallelism often uses contrast to make a point. The NASB captures this by saying, “And so is wisdom to a person of understanding.” To a fool, sin is a thrill, joy and pleasure (like a sport). But, to a person of understanding, the pursuit of true “wisdom” is a thrill, joy and pleasure (like a sport). Do I ever treat the wisdom of God like a thrilling sport that captivates me?