A troublemaker and a villain…
…who winks maliciously with his eye,
signals with his feet
and motions with his fingers,
Summary: Solomon gives us another warning. Keep an eye out for signs, winks, and gestures. They can be valuable clues to what is in a person’s heart.
Honestly, there are some things I would rather not know. Today’s passage is one of those things. Yet how are we to protect ourselves if we close our eyes to the warning signs that cross our paths?
A malicious wink is something that might be a threat, or it might be a signal to a confederate. Signals made with hands and feet are similar. They might mean something specific and evil, or they might mean nothing at all.
The thing that is troubling is that we do not always know what is behind the sign. How do we tell if it is innocent or malicious?
I suspect Solomon is not encouraging us to learn what the meaning of all the possible signs are, but that we are aware that they exist. If someone makes a sign with his hands and you do not know what it means, don’t assume it means nothing. Be on your guard.
Like a corrupt mouth, we might not know immediately if what they say is true or not. It may take time and more listening to find out if what they say is truth or deceit. The same is true for gestures and winks. Are they innocent or malicious? Time, by itself, does not tell. Paying attention to what is said and done over time does tell.
Application: Be on guard.
Food for Thought: Why is it important to be aware of who the troublemakers and villains are?
I like today’s topic. It’s nice that we are told to be on guard. But the answer to your question:
Why is it important to be aware of who the troublemakers and villains are?
So we know who needs to know who Jesus is. Because He wants to save everyone, not just the good.
Sorry kinda turned that into a tongue twister.
Well, yes. But you did a good job of it! 🙂
A lot of Ws, but it works 🙂
Why be aware of who they are?
There are at least two primary reasons I can think of:
1. To protect the sheep. Acts 20: 28 – 31.
2. To lovingly warn them against their fate if they continue a Christ-less lifestyle (this is assuming they are chronic villains who are under Satan’s sway). Acts 20: 20 – 21, 26 – 27.
We speak the truth in love. Ephesians 4: 14 – 15. But to villains we also warn them of what is at stake. Luke 3: 7 – 8.
Rich,
Thank you! Absolutely right. Protecting the sheep is every bit as important as winning souls to Christ. Maybe more so. Challenging the T&V with love is a great strategy.
I do agree.
But I also wonder if we are supposed to know who are troublemakers and villains, so that we won’t become them. Sometimes I only feel like I’m a few selfish acts away from it, and only training myself in God’s word keeps me on the right side….
S –
Intere-S-ting point! There is, of course, the battle between the flesh and the spirit that is with us until we leave this “tent” and join our Lord on the other side (Gal 5:17). So yes, I agree that these scriptures are a warning to us.
That said, it has been my experience that there needs to be a distinction drawn between the sheep and the troublemaker. If we do not draw a distinction, how can the church leadership follow any of Paul’s instructions to Titus? How can we benefit from Peter’s second letter? There is a reason we wrestle with these things. 1 Corinthians 5: 12-13 addresses this directly.
Paul does not tell us to judge their heart or their soul. That is God’s realm. But if all things are allowed in the church body, then there is no distinction between the church and the world. Why have a church then?
Some churches seem to have slid from their place as a safe haven for God’s Word into a place of social accommodation. This feels wrong to me and I think the letters to the seven churches mentioned in Revelation bears this out.
Are there benefits to isolating the troublemaker from the sheepfold? The answer is yes. I can think of two. One is that the sheep are protected from a voice that would cause division and distract from the focus on Jesus. The second is that one cannot repent if they are not made aware of the sin. Only by lovingly calling out the troublemaker can they become aware of their behavior. If they repent, great, if not then Paul’s admonition should be followed. The hope, even if they are expelled, is that they admit they are wrong and repent. This is the goal. I would rather be expelled a hundred times and readmitted a hundred and one rather than never be challenged and continue in behaviors that hurt the church and might even cause some to question their faith or leave the church.
Yikes!! I ranting!! Sorry… 🙂
03-13-2022, Proverbs 6:13, Why is it important to be aware of who the troublemakers and villains are?
“Discernment is not a matter of simply telling the difference between right and wrong; rather it is telling the difference between right and almost right.”
Charles Spurgeon
I recall as a young believer, praying for the power of discernment from the Holy Spirit. I then went about discerning everyone and everything I could see and placing people around me into boxes. One day I felt the Word of God speaking to me.
He said, “ I did not give you this gift to look at others but to look to yourself.” My first priority was to look to myself, my actions, thoughts and relationship with our Lord. Over time I have grown and there are many times alarms would go off when people claiming to be faithful would act contrary to our calling.
First we have to become comfortable knowing we have not become perfect beings, we are in a process of becoming perfected which will be completed when we stand before Christ. Second understand other believers are in the same process. Imperfect beings serving our Perfect God.
The troublemakers and villains are those who plot evil with deceit in their hearts they always stir up dissension. The Holy Spirit will point these out to us and our knowledge of Gods word will be recalled so we can conduct ourselves appropriately. Begin with ourselves and allow God to guide us.
Ron,
I love this story! We all are called to use the Light of God’s Spirit to discern what is right and wrong in our own lives. (I love the Spurgeon quote!) It appears to me that some are called to also discern it in others. (Titus 1:9)
Thank you for sharing this encouraging testimony!
Brother Jeff,
I love the Spurgeon quote also. And yes I agree, at some point we are called to discern in others, as the Spirit directs us. All part of being His servant in accordance to His will.
Ron