Proverbs 9 - Not Bragging, but Getting Wiser

"Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury. Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning." Proverbs 9: 7-9

A scoffer is someone who jeers or mocks or treats something with contempt, according to The Free Dictionary. To reprove is to convey disapproval.

To correct a scoffer would be irrelevant. You cannot give someone like this instructions; your words would fall on deaf ears.

When your mind is made up to hold something in contempt, you probably aren't in the right frame of mind to listen to any kind of wisdom on the matter. We can certainly be stubborn when we get something in our head. I know I myself can get stuck on an idea, or a person; maybe I am judging their actions. Once I have made up my mind they are doing something inappropriate, I just can't be swayed by talk.

I have to get in the right frame of mind, think about it and come to a different conclusion all on my own. I guess when I open up the path for wisdom, I can learn from someone else because I am no longer blocking the possibility that I may be wrong.

If there is anything I am learning from studying the scripture, is that I now know that I don't know nearly enough. I am finally able to say, I don't know everything. I am asking the Lord to teach me and show me so that I can be like the wise man; increasing in learning.

"If you are wise, you are wise for your own benefit; if you mock, you alone will bear the consequences." Proverbs 9:12

I really like this verse. It says to me: We are to be wise, but not boastful and proud. There is no need to say "I told you so" or to gloat and carry on about what we know. People don't respond well to that. If you are dealing with the aforementioned scoffer, they probably won't admit that they are wrong anyway; even if faced with some proof.

Resources
Day 35 - Diligently Seeking Wisdom

English Standard Version Bible Online - Proverbs 9

The Free Dictionary