Have you ever gone through proverbs and realized that there are a number of verses you fit “the fool”? I think more than any other time, I am there. Probably because such a brutal season personally has brought out some of the worst. There are questions I still have.
1) The wise value correction.
This is a challenging one. We tend to tolerate rebuke when it’s from who we want (people we respect), when we want (when we’re in a right frame of mind) and how we want (gently, kindly, and with great care). But that’s rarely the case that we get all three of those. So we reject rebuke because of one of these. But the wise receive rebuke and evaluate it accordingly, correcting where course correction is needed.
“a person who accepts correction is sensible” (v. 5)
“one who hates correction will die” (v. 10)
“One who listens to life-giving rebukes will be at home among the wise” (v. 31)
“whoever listens to correction acquires good sense” (v. 32)
2) Cheerful Heart
I remember being amazing at watching the training of the British commandoes. Primarily because one of the 4 values of being a commando was cheerfulness. So British, but what a great value!
“A joyful heart makes a face cheerful” (v. 13)
“a cheerful heart has a continual feast” (v. 15)
“Bright eyes cheer the heart; good news strengthens the bones” (v. 30)
3) Betterness
It’s better to have little and be righteous then have everything and be a fool.
“Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure with turmoil” (v. 16)
“Better a meal of vegetables where there is love, than a fattened ox with hatred” (v. 17)
4) Discipline
“A fool despises his father’s discipline” (v. 5)
“Discipline is harsh for the one who leaves the path” (v. 10)
“Anyone who ignores discipline despises himself” (v. 32)
5) The Rest
Several verses really speak to me.
“A mocker doesn’t love one who corrects him” (v. 12). Whew, have I ever learned about mockery in these days.
“The fear of the LORD is what wisdom teaches” (v. 33) – Love this as wisdom isn’t something complicated, it is simply obeying and honoring the LORD with our actions, and helping others do the same. It is complicated. It’s giving ourselves to the LORD.
“A hot-tempered man stirs up conflict” (v. 18) – Ugh. Have I experienced that one.
“The eyes of the LORD are everywhere, observing the wicked and the good” (v. 3) – This is one of those verses that indicate how people generally see God–one who is watching over everyone to see if they do right or wrong so that they can be punished or blessed. I don’t think that’s the sentiment here. I see it more as God knows. We can fool those around us and we can fool ourselves, but God sees it all.
