Lighten Up

(Proverbs 27:22 KJV)  Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him.

I’m afraid I am going to need to include the entire verse from the NASB on this one.

(Proverbs 27:22 NASB)  Though you pound a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain, Yet his foolishness will not depart from him.

Are you a reformer?  I don’t mean in the cultural sense.  I mean in the personal sense.  Are you always trying to help people?  To get them to straighten up and fly right?  To get them to see the light?  Is your favorite motto, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again”?  Maybe it is time to change your motto.

You can be an inspiration, an example, a friend, and a wall to run into.  That is all you can be.  There are two factors that are key to changing people.  One is the Holy Spirit.  God is working to change people and bring them to repentance and salvation.  The other key element is their personal choice.  If a person is a “fool” (191) then they are making the wrong choices.  The word is here that you need to lighten up.  Stop pounding.  Don’t stop being an example and a witness, but relax and realize that if the Holy Spirit can’t get through that thick skull, you won’t either.

Speaking of thick skulls, ask yourself this, “Is someone working on you?”

So?  Do your part, God is doing His.  But remember that the “fool” has a part to play.