Proverbs 9:7-8
He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame:
and he that rebuketh
a wicked man getteth himself a blot.
Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee:
rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.
Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be
yet wiser:
teach a just man, and he will increase in
learning.
A
scorner is one who mocks wisdom and is wise in his or her own eyes. When someone is operating out of pride we
must be careful how we give instruction and reproof. When our child is arrogantly stating his or
her position as an adolescent we must be careful how much we say in instruction
because their hearts are so hardened at that moment. We must still give them the Lord’s standard
but a reproof involves not only the standard but instruction in
righteousness. At the time we discern a
scornful disposition in our child we should lift the standard, state the
consequence and wait until his or her heart softens to instruct them in the way
that they should go.
If
we try to instruct our children when their hearts are hardened we will get
ourselves a blot. Most likely we sill
succumb to the temptation of anger and wrath because our words are not finding
a place in their hearts. Body language,
verbal responses and tone of voice will signal to us at those times that they
are in a scornful frame of mind. We can
pray at those times for their hearts to be softened. We can pray that they will be wise and just
and increase in learning. We must be
careful about trying to plant seed on hard ground. Rather, scatter the seed of the word upon
them and wait on the rain of His Spirit to soften their hearts and cause the
Word to penetrate to the depths of their being,
Are
you a wise woman? Do you receive
instruction or do you think you know how to do it? Are you teachable? If so you will be yet wiser and you will
increase in learning. Approach the Word
of God, pastoral studies and insights other Christians give you with an
eagerness to be taught and guess what?
You will learn.
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