Good morning,
We
live in a fascinating time when it comes to the ideas that make up a
good moral education. When we check the shipping tags for most of these
ideas we find that they come from places like Sodom or Babylon or The
Pit. Not everyone buys into these ideas, but we all have been
challenged by the ideas that are now considered “the right thing to do”
and are cautious about saying something “that will get people upset with
us.” If we are people who have read and believed the Bible, it’s very
tempting to look for opportunities to confront some of these people and
give them truth that will get them straightened out. The Bible is clear
that “Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10) but
the Lord gives us some very important guidelines when applying this
wonderful truth. God’s truth is always true, but how we use this
spiritual Sword can lead to an unnecessary fight or to a whole new
freedom for the persons who hear what the Bible has to say.
Three
verses in Proverbs 9: 7-9 have become a wonderful guideline for me when
dealing with people inside the church or the religious community that I
don’t know very well. There are three things you can do that will give
you some idea of where they are coming from in their walk with God. A
rebuke or a correction given in love when something is said that doesn’t
line up with the Bible will soon show if they are trusting themselves
or God’s Word. If they don’t really respect what the Bible says, and
insult you to push you back, the Bible says that you are dealing with a
mocker. If you are trying to lovingly correct them and you get an angry
response, you need to be aware that you may have come upon a wicked
person who would enjoy hurting you. We are told not to correct mockers,
they will just hate us for our defense of God’s truth. On the other
hand when we are dealing with a person who is sensitive to the work of
the Holy Spirit, these people will love us. What we share will make
these wise people even wiser. If we are dealing with people who
genuinely want to be right and live right, they will be encouraged and
even excited by what they are hearing that is leading them to more
freedom and truth. Dear Lord, please help us to use your Word wisely
and effectively with with those around us.
Proverbs 9:7
Anyone who rebukes a mocker will get an insult in return. Anyone who
corrects the wicked will get hurt. 8 So don’t bother correcting mockers;
they will only hate you. But correct the wise, and they will love you. 9
Instruct the wise, and they will be even wiser. Teach the righteous,
and they will learn even more.
Roy Wisner
