Proverbs 9.7
He who corrects a scoffer gets dishonor for himself,
And he who reproves a wicked man gets insults for himself.
8 Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you,
Reprove a wise man and he will love you.
9 Give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser,
Teach a righteous man and he will increase his learning.
10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Jesus said, "Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces." Matthew 7.6
Wisdom is a double edged sword. It is the Word of the LORD. Wielding a sharp sword is to be done carefully.
If you share with wisdom with a wicked man or a scoffer they are going to get them mad. They will attack the messenger. They will trample down the message.
Wicked= guilty and condemned
Scoffer=talk arrogantly, boast, inflated
He is full of hot air. He thinks he knows it all. He is puffed up with pride.
No one can tell him anything.
Side note- I have appreciated the 2 District Superintendents we have had. Both strong men but willing to take advice and even ask for it. Both teachable spirits. Teachable- the ability to learn and to share.
Back to the mocker...
What is a reproof?
It is an act of correcting in way of reasoning with another person.
The Proverbs are full of reproofs! Knowledge of them is power. You have to be careful how you handle this power, this insight, this understanding... that is what Solomon is saying before he gives out one nugget. These are not be taken lightly and are only to be shared with people who will receive them.
If you hide God's Word in your heart you will have a sword in your hand, a double edged sword...
Hebrews 4.12
For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Even Jesus spoke in parables to hide the meaning from those who would mock.
Solomon is warning his son and God is warning us to be careful who we share these truths with. They can cut deeply into a person's life and if their heart is not open they will lash out. A person who is not open will dishonor you, insult you and hate you.
As it is with all of God's Word
So it is with the Proverbs...
1. Look At The Lifestyle of a Person Before You Offer Counsel.
Are they following Christ?
If not do not seek to impart wisdom.
Keep your mouth shut/just pray for them
How do they regard the things of God?
Do they have reverence and awe for the LORD and things sacred?
Are they are person of the Word?
Does their conversation indicate they have been with Jesus, that they are with Him regularly?
Do they have a teachable spirit?
Sometimes hard to detect...
Do they listen?
Do they have a heart to learn.
Body positions arms and eyes... eye contact
Do they ask questions?
Are they humble?
Jesus said of the Pharisees: Matthew 15.14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
This is difficult to leave them alone. That is why Jesus is telling us to do so. We may have a Proverb that would apply, it may have even been proven true in our lives and we may have an account ready to share abut that. You are being told here, "Leave them alone."
2. Pray, Talk to God Before You Talk To Anyone.
Too many blurt out things with little thought and no prayer.
We need to become more contemplative.
expressing or involving prolonged thought.
synonyms: thoughtful, pensive, reflective, meditative, musing, ruminative, introspective, brooding, deep/lost in thought
Spiritual advice, sharing wisdom when it is done needs to be considered carefully, prayerfully, with discretion and in the fear of God. It may be good to read what James says about the tongue in chapter 3.
Galatians 6.1-2 Brothers , if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Talk to the LORD about others before you talk to them about the LORD and their walk with Him.
3. Let Your Conversation Be Seasoned With Salt. Colossians 4.6
A spirit of humility
A genuine concern for the soul
Listening
Tasteful, palatable
Wisdom shared with the wise, those who fear the LORD, is beautiful
The foundation of understanding is the knowledge of God.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.
They will love you.
Become wiser still.
Increase their learning.
When you think a word of wisdom from the Proverbs is appropriate think, pray and if your heart is clear share it.
Psalm 37.30 The godly offer good counsel;
they teach right from wrong.
31 They have made God’s law their own,
so they will never slip from His path.
Personal Testimony: I am thankful for all the rebukes I have received. I remember some:
*You spoke so fast the first time it was hard to keep up with you. This time was better.
*Don't forget to make time for your family. As the pastor set the example!
*Make sure you take time for God. - Fenelon
A book with many rebukes.
Over the next 10 weeks we will be going through this wonderful book, these saying of the wise, this portion of the Word of God. This would be a good time to reengage in Bible Studies during the week. Dig into God's Word. Become wiser. These times call for discernment.
Jesus told us: For false Christs and false prophets will appear and they will provide great signs and wonders, so as to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
Matthew 24.24
I am appalled at what Christians are falling for these days, showing very little if any discernment.
In these Last Days...
Revelation 13.11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb and he spoke as a dragon. 12 He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. 13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men. 14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who *had the wound of the sword and has come to life. 15 And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, 17 and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name. 18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six.
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