Participation Trophies

(Proverbs 13:13 KJV)  Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.

Who “despises” (936) the “word” (1697)?  The context makes clear that we are talking about the word of God.  Who would despise the Bible?  The Hebrew is also translated “contempt” and “scorn”.  The noun form is once “laughingstock” in the NASB. 

Some people demean the word by praising it.  How often have you heard someone talk about the KJV being a great piece of literature.  It is true that you are not very well grounded in our culture if you don’t know the references that are always popping up from the Bible.  That is a long way from accepting it as Truth.  I am slowly working through writings of Plato and Aristotle.  I am currently half way through the history of Herodotus.  I acknowledge that they play a significant part in our cultural history.  But they are just books.  The Bible is not “just” a book.

Our problem is when we find these kind of people in the church.  Sometimes they are pastors.  Sometimes they are influential layman.  They are the ones who give out the participation trophies to every contestant.  They are the ones who don’t want to fail any students.

So?  Make sure that you don’t fall for the “yes, but” crowd who don’t really believe that the Bible is the word of God.  Proverbs does not think the reward for that is worth dying for.  (Posted, January 13, 2017, PP)