Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you;
rebuke the wise and they will love you.
Summary: There is something different between the mocker and the wise. Solomon shows us that difference and explains why it is important.
In our last meditation, “Good Advice,” we looked at why it is wise to avoid correcting a mocker or rebuking the wicked. The reason is that they don’t recognize any authority other than their own. Correction or rebuke is not seen as helpful. Instead, it is an attack on their personal authority. The “wise,” on the other hand, welcome correction.
Why would anyone welcome correction? For the exact opposite reason the mockers hate it. The wise understand that there is a higher authority than themselves.
Let’s suppose that you and I are drafted into an imaginary navy. We are placed on a ship and, given the lowest rank possible, “recruit.” All around us, people are doing things we don’t understand. There is machinery everywhere and danger is all around. It feels like we are just in the way of everyone else.
What are we to do? Should we “mock” all the “stupid” people around us simply because we do not understand what they are doing? Not if we want to learn. Instead, people who want to learn invite correction. With time, effort, and a willingness to try, you and I will progress up through the ranks as we learn more and more about life on a ship.
Real life is like that. We do not have “ranks” that God hands out, but we do earn crowns (2 Timothy 2:5, 4:8; James 1:12, 1 Peter 5:4). The question that the wise face every day is, “How?” How do I do better? How do I please my Lord?
To complicate matters, all of us suffer from a blind spot. Driving a car is a great example. Who hasn’t tried to change lanes only to hear someone honk at you because you didn’t see them? Jesus calls this the “plank” in our eye (Matt 7: 3-5). The wise understand we are not “all-seeing” people. Everyone needs help spotting the dangers in our blind spots, but only the wise are willing to admit we need help.
There is a lot to learn in this life. The wise understand that while the mocker resents it.
Application: Check your responses to people who offer you suggestions or corrections. Are you wicked or wise?
Food for Thought: How can knowing the difference between “wicked” and “wise” help us navigate through life?
How can knowing the difference between “wicked” and “wise” help us navigate through life?
Ephesians 5:17 , Colossians 1:9 , Romans 2:18, come to mind so that Luke 12:47 doesn’t happen to us.
(Link added – je)
For some reason, I’m getting this feeling that you might find the will of God important.
Well said, Mr. T!
🌟
I like T’s answer. Seeing the difference in who’s will someone is serving is an important distinguisher for the wicked and wise.
The wicked are proud and aggressive, where as the wise are humble and look to the Lord for guidance. The wicked pursue their own self-interest, and the wise look after other’s interests as if they were their own.
Living a wise and Godly life means you will not die alone. The Lord is with you, and you will undoubtedly have made real personal connections with those around you. Also, you won’t have held on to the things of this world that mean nothing in eternity.
Psalm 16:11 “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Thank you, Chris.
You have touched on the importance of attitude. Proud and aggressive versus meek and humble. One acknowledges God, the other does not.
It is amazing how everything keeps coming back to that one decision: Do we acknowledge our Creator?
👍
I like T’s verses. And Chris added some nice ones for this subject as well.
Knowing the difference helps us navigate through life because if we don’t know the difference we are likely to choose poorly. We are likely to conform to the pressures of this world system and submit to the social pressures that the evil one is behind (1 John 2: 15 – 17). The unregenerate heart cannot be trusted. Jeremiah 17: 9.
Good verses, Rich.
“Unregenerate heart” is an interesting phrase. It might also be described as the heart of the natural man who has not yet submitted to Lord Jesus. When we submit to Jesus, he provides us with a new heart (Ezekiel 36:26) and gives us his Holy Spirit (John 14:26) to teach and guide us. John 3: 5-6 tells us flat out that we are “born again” of the Spirit and become new.
04-05-2022, Proverbs 9:8, How can knowing the difference between “wicked” and “wise” help us navigate through life?
First we must understand, know in our hearts that wicked and wise do in fact exist and will be judged by God who makes this very clear to all mankind through His revelation by the Holy Spirit.
John 5:32, John 16:8-11
We must each make our individual choice to repent of our wickedness and live in obedience to Jesus Christ by asking Him to come into our hearts, open our eyes, guide us in all truth and life, as we trust, submit and surrender to God and His Word.
John 3:16, 2 Samuel 7:28
We must accept our flesh, our ways without Christ are wicked, and it is only by the power of Jesus Christ in our hearts that we can and do overcome wickedness which separates us from God. It is only by His power and wisdom we overcome the storm and able to navigate through life.
John 15:5, Romans 1:5, Galatians 2:20
We must develop and live in a continual awareness, reassurance, a deep respect, reverence and awe for God’s power and authority as we seek to live in the presence of our HOLY, JUST, and ALMIGHTY God, who is aware of every thought, word and deed of our lives.
Proverbs 1:7, John 8:32, Proverbs 15:3, Hebrews 4:13
Ron,
This is a beautiful meditation on choosing between wicked and wise. Thank you! Well done! 🙂