Wednesday, July 09, 2008
Wise Man or Mocker
(Proverbs 9:7-8 TLB)
If you rebuke a mocker, you will only get a smart retort; yes, he will snarl at you. So don't bother with him; he will only hate you for trying to help him. But a wise man, when rebuked, will love you all the more.
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One challenge is to not somehow "qualify" the rebuker when I'm the rebukee --- writing the person off as not knowing what they're talking about, or not understanding my situation. God tells us to make allowance for weaker brothers and sisters, and also not to use my freedoms to cause another to stumble.
Another challenge is to not recoil in defense if the rebuker's approach feels like an attack. There is much to be offended by in the world. If I consistently can't get past an "offense" and glean benefit from the rebuke, I will remain a legend in my own mind and a stubborn fool in the mind of others.
--> Lord God, help me allow you to be my defender. Help me allow you to make me better through correction. Help me remember that what others may intend for harm, you will use for good.
If you rebuke a mocker, you will only get a smart retort; yes, he will snarl at you. So don't bother with him; he will only hate you for trying to help him. But a wise man, when rebuked, will love you all the more.
----------
One challenge is to not somehow "qualify" the rebuker when I'm the rebukee --- writing the person off as not knowing what they're talking about, or not understanding my situation. God tells us to make allowance for weaker brothers and sisters, and also not to use my freedoms to cause another to stumble.
Another challenge is to not recoil in defense if the rebuker's approach feels like an attack. There is much to be offended by in the world. If I consistently can't get past an "offense" and glean benefit from the rebuke, I will remain a legend in my own mind and a stubborn fool in the mind of others.
--> Lord God, help me allow you to be my defender. Help me allow you to make me better through correction. Help me remember that what others may intend for harm, you will use for good.
# posted by jono : 9:17 AM
