If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you. If you are a mocker, you alone
will suffer. ~Proverbs 9:12
Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against the house, and it fell with a great crash. ~Matthew 7:26-27
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. ~James 1:5
What is a mocker anyway? We all probably think we know and we all probably are pretty clear when mockery is happening in our presence, but just in case…here is a dictionary definition.
Noun: teasing and contemptuous language or behavior directed at a particular person or thing; an absurd misrepresentation or imitation of something. Late Middle English: from Old French moquerie, from mocquer ‘to deride’.
A mocker is not the same as a fool. To put it simply, a fool doesn’t know that they are a fool. A mocker knows that he or she is being derisive and demeaning. In fact, a mocker probably sees you as a fool and has very little patience for your point of view. Advice to the fourth soils among us, save your breath. Your words are better spent in prayer!
Both fools and mockers are hard to deal with, but what makes a mocker more challenging is their malicious intent. They know how to bother us, push our buttons, get our goat! You get the picture. A mocker’s goal is to get you to betray your own principles and beliefs. They actually enjoy doing so. Your conversation with them is not genuine. They enjoy toying with you to see if they can trip you up.
We see some of this mockery taking place in the New Testament with some of the insincere questions that the Pharisees and teachers of the law brought to Jesus. Questions like: “Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” (Matthew 22:15-22) or, “At the resurrection, whose wife shall she be of the seven?” Matthew 22:23-33), after they had concocted a ridiculous scenario, that was beyond belief. Jesus could take them on, with the result that they finally gave up the game and plotted His murder instead.
However, unless we really feel called to engage, I think that we learn from Proverbs based on what we read on Feb. 17 which says: “Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult. Whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse. Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you.” ~(Proverbs 9:7-8A)
Instead, from what we learn today: “If you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.” Maybe our effort is better spent in prayer. Even Jesus Himself, had cautioned restraint in these cases, remember, warning us to not cast our pearls before swine. (Matthew 7:6)
It’s okay, at times, not to engage. Christians too often give themselves a pass thinking they never have to say anything. They think that it’s okay to just live and let their actions speak louder than words. However, Paul challenges that kind of thinking when he says, “How then can they call on the one they have not believed in? How can they believe in the one whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?...Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the Word of Christ.” (Romans 10:14-&-17) We need to accept the fact that we will be asked to speak. We will need to confess our allegiance, but it is okay to know our audience, to hold our pearls until they can be more appreciated. That is wisdom. But always pray!
Prayer: Oh Lord, help me to be wise if I ever have to respond to a mocker. Give me wisdom to surprise them with a gracious response instead of the hurt or anger they expect. And give me wise words that might help them see what they are doing and maybe soften their hearts to repentance. And may I never ever become a mocker! In Jesus' name, amen.
Song: Wisdom Song
Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against the house, and it fell with a great crash. ~Matthew 7:26-27
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. ~James 1:5
What is a mocker anyway? We all probably think we know and we all probably are pretty clear when mockery is happening in our presence, but just in case…here is a dictionary definition.
Noun: teasing and contemptuous language or behavior directed at a particular person or thing; an absurd misrepresentation or imitation of something. Late Middle English: from Old French moquerie, from mocquer ‘to deride’.
A mocker is not the same as a fool. To put it simply, a fool doesn’t know that they are a fool. A mocker knows that he or she is being derisive and demeaning. In fact, a mocker probably sees you as a fool and has very little patience for your point of view. Advice to the fourth soils among us, save your breath. Your words are better spent in prayer!
Both fools and mockers are hard to deal with, but what makes a mocker more challenging is their malicious intent. They know how to bother us, push our buttons, get our goat! You get the picture. A mocker’s goal is to get you to betray your own principles and beliefs. They actually enjoy doing so. Your conversation with them is not genuine. They enjoy toying with you to see if they can trip you up.
We see some of this mockery taking place in the New Testament with some of the insincere questions that the Pharisees and teachers of the law brought to Jesus. Questions like: “Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” (Matthew 22:15-22) or, “At the resurrection, whose wife shall she be of the seven?” Matthew 22:23-33), after they had concocted a ridiculous scenario, that was beyond belief. Jesus could take them on, with the result that they finally gave up the game and plotted His murder instead.
However, unless we really feel called to engage, I think that we learn from Proverbs based on what we read on Feb. 17 which says: “Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult. Whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse. Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you.” ~(Proverbs 9:7-8A)
Instead, from what we learn today: “If you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.” Maybe our effort is better spent in prayer. Even Jesus Himself, had cautioned restraint in these cases, remember, warning us to not cast our pearls before swine. (Matthew 7:6)
It’s okay, at times, not to engage. Christians too often give themselves a pass thinking they never have to say anything. They think that it’s okay to just live and let their actions speak louder than words. However, Paul challenges that kind of thinking when he says, “How then can they call on the one they have not believed in? How can they believe in the one whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?...Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the Word of Christ.” (Romans 10:14-&-17) We need to accept the fact that we will be asked to speak. We will need to confess our allegiance, but it is okay to know our audience, to hold our pearls until they can be more appreciated. That is wisdom. But always pray!
Prayer: Oh Lord, help me to be wise if I ever have to respond to a mocker. Give me wisdom to surprise them with a gracious response instead of the hurt or anger they expect. And give me wise words that might help them see what they are doing and maybe soften their hearts to repentance. And may I never ever become a mocker! In Jesus' name, amen.
Song: Wisdom Song
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