If you reason with an arrogant cynic, you’ll get slapped in the face;
confront bad behavior and get a kick in the shins.
So don’t waste your time on a scoffer;
all you’ll get for your pains is abuse.
But if you correct those who care about life,
that’s different—they’ll love you for it!
Save your breath for the wise—they’ll be wiser for it;
tell good people what you know—they’ll profit from it.
Skilled living gets its start in the Fear-of-God,
insight into life from knowing a Holy God.
It’s through me, Lady Wisdom, that your life deepens,
and the years of your life ripen.
Live wisely and wisdom will permeate your life;
mock life and life will mock you. Proverbs 7:12 MSG
Which one are you? There are seasons in a person’s life where we could be the arrogant cynic. Later in our lives our growing pride in what we think we ‘know’ and have learned we become the ‘scoffer’ to anyone who disagrees with us. Hopefully and eventually … if we learn from our mistakes and growing number of scars … we become wiser. And hopefully when you are gray headed and have learned by life experience, and it has taught you some humility, and someone warns you… you will actually thank them, for you know and appreciate the possible pain if you travel in the wrong direction. Where are you in this process of life?
Did you learn early that God was real and had the final judgment of things? It’s one thing to have a ‘fear of God’ and another to actually pursue a relationship with Him. Insight in life comes from the Holy Spirit when you actually submit to Him. Does He teach and advise you when you ask Him questions? Have you learned from other people’s mistakes? Can you learn from the lessons in scripture? Are you eager to be taught by the Holy Spirit? Being humble and realizing you don’t know it all … and that God holds ALL the keys … is the first step in the right direction. Arrogance and a scoffing attitude actually are immaturity and an ignorance of the Truth.
The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor. Proverbs 15:33
Before destruction a man’s heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor. Proverbs 18:12
The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life. Proverbs 22:4
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Philippians 2:3
Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 1 Peter 5:5
Are you wise enough to see yourself in those who are making mistakes? Have you gained enough insight to be compassionate towards others… instead of making fun of them or scoffing at them?
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16
For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. James 2:13
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. James 3:17
But you, beloved, ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, that they were saying to you, “In the last time there will be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts.” These are the ones who cause divisions, worldly-minded, devoid of the Spirit. But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking forward to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. And have mercy on some, who are doubting; save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh. Jude 1:17-23 NAS
Can you surrender to Him again this morning? Can you humbly approach Him?