24.241 | THE WISE ARE BECOMING WISER | Proverbs 9:7-12 | God’s Word for Today with Pastor Nazario Sinon

God’s Word For Today

Text: Proverbs 9:7-12 (ESV)

THE WISE ARE BECOMING WISER

A wise person will grow wiser. The reason is in his teachable attitude which is opposite to the scoffer.[v.7-8]

The "scoffer" depicted here is unteachable, defined by a Hebrew word meaning "mocker, inflated, scorner." They hate any attempt to change their mind, preferring to pursue along their current path. They respond to other views with arrogance and ridicule. This is the same person as the "wicked" man[v.8], coming from a different Hebrew word, who lashes out violently at the person who tries to tell him the truth. This lashing out includes slander. The word "injury" implies stains or slander.

Today, well-meaning people have often suffered backlash from those who respond to criticism with hateful anger. Jesus and the apostle Paul were victims of such people who hated them for telling them the truth. Wokeism and the cancel culture have popularized this attitude.

In contrast, the wise will take rebuke with humility. They will appreciate correction and as a result, they become better. One example is Peter. He admitted in the presence of Jesus that he was a sinful man. Yet, he became a faithful follower, who loved Jesus dearly. His love was not always perfect, but he confessed that he loved Jesus (see John 21:15–17).

Generally, a wise person who receives instruction will become wiser.[v9]

His learning is dynamic not static. He will never feel he has reach a point where he has no need for additional wisdom or further learning. The Bible challenges believers to build on their faith and to grow their knowledge of the Lord. In 2 Peter 1:5–7 the apostle Peter admonishes: "For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love." He concludes by saying "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Pet 3:18).

The foundation of his right attitude to learn is his ’reverence’ toward God.[v.10]

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,

and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

The word translated "beginning" here is from the root ‘tachillah’, which implies a foundation or an origin. In this context, Solomon means it is a prerequisite for wisdom. Without a humble, sincere reverence for who God is, a person will be arrogant and instinctively lash out when they are corrected (see v.7).

It is our common knowledge that the person who lives by godly wisdom has a better likelihood of experiencing blessing and avoiding negative consequences in comparison to a life lived in sin and vices. The context is much the same as a doctor who tells a patient, "eat healthy food and you will live longer." A life of obedience to God's instructions is a good life. It is marked by peace, joy, significance, and fellowship with the Lord. The person who chooses wisdom sets themselves on a path much more likely to involve both quantity of years and quality of life.

Let’s reflect about this today. To be either wise or a scoffer is a personal choice.

12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself;

if you scoff, you alone will bear it.

In Jesus' parable, an unwise wealthy farmer boasted, "Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry" (Luke 12:19). However, God answered him with this rebuke, "Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?" (Luke 12:20). As far as eternity is concerned, a fat bank account is worthless. You cannot take those earthly goods with you into eternity, can you? I have yet to see a hearse loaded with money with the corpse. Thus, what matters is a person's faith in the all-wise Savior. The wise believer stores up treasure in heaven and receives rewards for faithful service (1 Cor 3:10–14).