Good morning, friends.
I’ve spent some time this week in Proverbs, Job, 1 Samuel, and Colossians, and I jotted down a few thoughts from my study. Here are three I’m still carrying into this week.
1 – On Being a Scorner
Proverbs has a lot to say about scorners, but what is a scorner? We don’t use that word much today, so it’s easy to quickly read over those verses, ignoring the warnings. We sometimes can think scorner = lost person, but did you know scorners might just come to church with you? Let’s go a step further—could I be becoming a scorner?
A scorner is a person who has become so resistant to correction that he treats the correction—and often the person giving it—with contempt.
One of the clearest signs is how we respond to correction. Do I listen and consider what’s being said, or immediately defend myself? Do I resent the person correcting me? Have I started avoiding people who might tell me something I don’t want to hear?
Proverbs 21:11 says the wise is instructed and receives knowledge.
What I’m carrying:
How do I respond to correction?
2 – On A Good Name
Character and reputation aren’t the same. Character is who you actually are, while reputation is how others see you. It’s possible to have good character and a bad reputation. (See the lives of Joseph and Jesus.)
Solomon tells us that “a good name is rather to be chosen than great riches” (Proverbs 22:1). In other words, reputation matters.
It’s tempting to think we must try to build a good name, but in trying, we can easily drift toward people-pleasing.
Instead, pursue wisdom, integrity, truth, faithfulness, and the fear of the LORD. Then you’ll find a good name grows out of good character.
What I’m carrying:
Pursue character, and let your reputation take care of itself.
3 – On Knowing God
Job knew God before his suffering ever began. He feared Him, trusted Him, and walked with Him.
But after everything Job experienced, he said:
“I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.” — Job 42:5
Job hadn’t discovered a different God. His experience had deepened his knowledge of the God he already knew.
Paul prayed something similar for the Colossians—that they would be “increasing in the knowledge of God” (Colossians 1:10).
There are truths about God we learn by hearing them. Then, there are seasons when we have to live on what we’ve learned.
We know God is faithful—and then life turns upside down and we have to trust Him.
We know God gives strength—and then we become weak.
We know God is sufficient—and then something we depended upon is taken away.
The truth hasn’t changed.
But through walking with God, our knowledge of Him deepens.
What I’m carrying:
Some things about God are learned in the classroom. Others are learned by walking with Him
Have a great week!
Brad
P.S. In Sunday School this week, we finished 1 Samuel 20 and looked at three very different responses to the will of God.
Saul was fighting it. Jonathan was surrendering to it. David was waiting on it.
Same God. Same plan. Three very different responses.
I recorded the lesson, Fighting, Surrendering, and Waiting: Three Responses to God’s Will, and you can listen to it here.