PROFITING FROM PROVERBS

"Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words" (Proverbs 23:9 KJV).

As Bible believers, the only thing we have is our Bible to comfort, to counsel, to edify, to correct, and to equip. If a man rejects the Final Authority, he is a fool, for he has heard it all before and now he is wiser than the One that gave us His Word. Now, he is a mocker, and a scoffer. Whatever is offered to him from God's precious table is but that which is to be laughed at and put under his feet. Jesus told us how to handle such people, "Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you" (Matthew 7:6 KJV).

Now, I know that this does not fit the modern concept of the loving Saviour Who would never offend anyone, the One that would gladly sit at a bar and drink with the patrons, and never, no never, judge them. To manufacture such a picture as this of our Holy and Righteous God is only the banter of fools, and very likely the ones of whom 23:9 is addressing.

We know that our Redeemer is coming again, many signs point to His return for His Bride. Among those "signs" are the scoffers and the mockers, those that "despise the wisdom" of the Word of God. Those that can no longer blush in the face of their puny attempts to joke about and blaspheme the very One that paid for their sins on the cross, the One that "bought them," as Peter says.

As believers, we need to know when to walk away from a fool and leave them to their folly. If we continue to engage them in theological arguments, they will only despise us and the One that sent us. Leave them to their own devices. Perhaps you have planted a seed, but it is best to let another water it, and pray that another might one day harvest it.

Lord, teach us that the battle is Yours. We are merely your ambassadors. You have given us a message to those that are lost, but help us to know when pursuing a soul can bring more harm than good. Teach us to be your gentle servants, wise as serpents, yet harmless as doves. Amen.

Let’s read a chapter of Proverbs a day and see what God might have for us. As the Lord leads, share with us what God has shown you in a special way and by His grace let us build up a devotional repository. Let’s keep our knives and forks handy for some daily bread!

If anyone would like to be added to the ping list, please let me know either by post or by p.m.

I imagine a day one day in heaven when some one will walk up to us and thank us.

He might say something like, you don’t probably remember me but I laughed in your face when you told me something about Jesus that I didn’t like. But I never forgot what you said, and later someone else said the exact same thing and it got my attention and I was saved. I know you were discouraged that day when I treated you so badly, but I’m happy to tell you now that your word fitly spoken accomplished what God intended for my life. So, thanks.

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