The Scoffer and the Wise Person

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“Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you.”

Proverbs 9:8

 

The scoffer shows contempt through ridicule and mockery. When you bring truth or correction to a scoffer, what you get is a bulls-eye painted on your forehead. You then become the object of their ridicule and mockery. The reason is because the scoffer lives to spew out contempt, and is always on the lookout for someone or something on which to have it land.

How drastically different is the response of a wise person! In contrast, the wise one is always on the lookout for truth. When truth is presented, however that truth comes, it becomes like a lightbulb to a moth. Even when the truth is in the form of correction, the wise person is drawn to it and to its presenter. The nature of wisdom is to look for an object of value even when it is hidden in the most unlikely of places, even when it is presented in the most unappealing wrapping.

It may seem like hate and love are overly strong words to use as responses to correction. Why such extremes? It is to reveal the wide gulf between the heart of the scoffer and the wise person. The end of the scoffer is hatred toward all who tell them what to do. The end of the wise person is love toward all who push them toward greater wisdom. The heart of the scoffer is filled with hate. The heart of the wise person is filled with love. In this is also wisdom for we cannot go anywhere that our heart does not lead.

Is your heart burdened by hatred? Then you will speak out with contempt and mockery. Is your heart characterized by love? Then you will respond to correction with gratitude. So then what is in your heart?

Father in heaven, reveal to us the condition of our hearts. Set us free from hatred and anger and bitterness so that we may have the true heart of wisdom. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

Devoted to keeping Jesus Christ the main thing.

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