Christ Leads The Way

“How long, foolish ones, will you love ignorance? How long will you mockers enjoy mocking and you fools hate knowledge?” – Proverbs 1:22 (HCSB)

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The book of Proverbs talks a lot about mockers. It’s a book about wisdom and understanding, and it takes a considerable amount of space to address those who mock other people. It’s a topic worthy of our study.

“If you are wise, you are wise for your own benefit; if you mock, you alone will bear the consequences” (Prov. 9:12). Those who mock others are attempting to hurt or bring some shame or embarrassment on another individual, but the Lord “mocks those who mock, but gives grace to the humble” (Prov. 3:34).

It’s interesting that those who mock and those who humble are contrasted. People who mock others are really just arrogant. Notice what the Proverbs writer says, “The proud and arrogant person, named ‘Mocker,’ acts with excessive pride” (Prov. 21:24). Those who are humble don’t take the time to belittle or berate another person. Instead, they lift up, they encourage, and they honor others over themselves.

Remember the apostle Paul said, “Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility, consider others as more important than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3). Individuals who rival against someone else and who are conceited take the time to mock others because they are not humble. And they probably don’t care. The Lord cares because “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6). That looks a lot like Proverbs 3:34. God resists those who mock.

“Drive out a mocker and conflict goes too, then quarreling and dishonor will cease” (Prov. 22:10). Dishonor of another person will stop once the mocker is stopped. But mockers love to dishonor other people. It must in some way make them feel better about themselves. But Christians find delight in building up others instead of trying to tear them down. People who are worldly and ungodly do not understand that.

If there are mockers reading, it will probably fall on blind eyes, as the Bible says that “a mocker doesn’t listen to rebuke” (Prov. 13:1). But “the one who mocks the poor insults his Maker, and one who rejoices over calamity will not go unpunished” (Prov. 17:5). Poor doesn’t mean one who lacks money; it’s talking about one who is unable to defend themselves – those who are marginalized in our society. If you mock and make fun of another person, you are insulting God, and you will not go unpunished.

Yet, there is hope for the mocker. You can humble yourself in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you (James 4:10). You don’t have to feel important by wasting your time tearing down, berating, or mocking another person. That is sin in the sight of God. Don’t continue in your sin of mocking and trying to embarrass another person. Repent. That means change your mind about what you are doing, and, as a result, stop doing it. You’re really only hurting yourself.

Repent and be baptized (Acts 2:38). Obey the Lord today.

Be an “encourager” and not a “discourager.” Build people up instead of making fun of and embarrassing them. Throw off the arrogant pride and become humble in the sight of the Lord. Won’t you obey God today? Mockers will not go unpunished.

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