Blog Journeys of a Lifelong Learner
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The Scoffer and the Wise Man January 9, 2010
Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
A scoffer does not receive instruction. There is always a potential for one to play the part of the scoffer in one's interactions. This vile tendency must be avoided. Pride drives the scoffer to his immaturity; it is his immaturity. The scoffer does not receive instruction, but this is not his only fault, for he proceeds from rejection of the counsel to hatred of the one who delivered it. It is a mark of foolish immaturity to look down upon those who are willing to confront others with their flaws. Those most in need of advice are most likely to reject it. The boastfulness which sustains the scoffer develops easily and must be continually fled.
The response of the wise man is markedly different! Whereas the scoffer rejects correction and despises the one dispensing the correction, the wise man delights in both. The humility of the wise fosters their growth in wisdom and humility; it is the ultimate virtuous cycle. Humble embracing of wisdom is unnatural and rare. It is unnatural because it fundamentally contradicts the natural dispositions of the human condition. It is rare because the only means for escaping the natural dispositions of the human condition is the radical transformational work of God, whereby He makes willful sinners into saints obedient to His Word by grace through faith (something which few ever experience).
The righteous are those who are positionally justified before God by the merits of Christ and who (because of the work of God) are of transformed conduct. The wicked scoffer brings forth boastful self-sufficiency from his innermost being, but the righteous wise one has been given a humble heart and walks in true humility (though it is not without occasional challenges reminiscent of the former dispositions).
The critical question for the reader is what sort of person he or she is. The qualities of the two options are clearly exhibited. No alternative types are listed. One provides pleasant results, the other promises lasting sorrow. The solution for navigating from one disposition to the other is made plain: the fear of God and the knowledge of Him secure entrance into genuine wisdom. Those who humble themselves before God will be granted of His gracious goodness and mercy.
Associated Scriptures: John 17:6-18, Proverbs 15:29,31-33, Zephaniah 2:3, 1 Corinthians 2:14-16, Romans 6-8, Colossians 2:8-3:17, Ephesians 1:1-2:10, Matthew 11:25-30, John 1:1-18, Acts 2, Matthew 12:33-37