Romans 9:7-12 // The Scorner

He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot. 8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. 9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. 10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. 11 For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased. 12 If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it. (Proverbs 9:7-12)

It is perhaps unfortunate (or perhaps a Satanic snare) that the people we most feel like correcting are the last people we should be trying to correct. Are you trying to reach someone who continually insults and humiliates you? You had better try to stop reaching them, and reach someone who will respond.

Wisdom has often been defined as "the fear of the Lord", but I think this is reading into the text more than was intended. Fearing God is a significant part of wisdom, one who does not fear God will not have true wisdom.

What do I mean by true wisdom? A person who is wise enough to get rich, attain greatness in the eyes of the world, or even just have a good life is not truly wise unless he has made the necessary preparations for his eternal destiny. There are many people who think themselves very wise who will be absolutely humiliated in the resurrection.

So to the people of this world, who do not take eternity into account, we as Christians are truly foolish, but the truth is that they are the fools. But as Christians we love these people and we want to turn them from the error of their ways. Forget it. We will only hurt ourselves if we try to win these un-winnable people. That is what proverbs says.

But what about our duty to reach the lost? It is simple. We do not have unlimited time. Find the people who are willing to be persuaded, humble enough to be taught. Find these people and win them. Win them even if you don't happen to like them personally. Win them even if you can't help thinking they will only be a burden to the church. Win them no matter how unlovely they are, there are many people who are willing to be taught that are hard to get on with, or hard to love. Love them and win them for Jesus. Give them the salvation that they crave.

When a man has showed himself to be a scorner, who will not listen to reason and uses mockery to win arguments of his own making, leave him alone.