A Roadmap, Not a Club

(Proverbs 15:5 KJV)  A fool despiseth his father's instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.

Again we see the “fool” (191).  To rob someone else's insight:  God must have loved fools because He made so many of them.  Remember that Jesus said we are not to call people fools. 

(Matthew 5:22 KJV)  But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

I had another thought on that paradox.  Proverbs defines the fool.  Jesus talks about calling someone a fool in anger, or at least to his face.  In Proverbs we are allowing God to tell us the standard, in Matthew Jesus is talking about our behavior.  Picture the difference between discussing the sin of murder and calling someone a murderer.

The purpose of the written word it to be a roadmap, not a club.  While there are times that the Holy Spirit directs individuals to correct and reprove the usual target of the correction is to be ourselves.  We get it turned around.  Think about the preaching last Sunday.  I don’t know what the text was or if it was well presented.  Who was the target of the sermon in your mind?  Go ahead, make a list if it helps.  In reality the list should be short.  In fact it should have one name on it:  Yours.  Or mine.

So, when you read or listen consider yourself the most needy person in range.  That should be the attitude.  Prepare yourself ahead of time.  “What do you have for me today, Lord?”  Sometimes when a student hands me a paper I get a puzzled look on my face and ask, “Why did you write it upside down?”  They patiently, rolling their eyes, reach out and turn it around for me.  The problem is the one holding the paper.