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FOOLS AND EVIL PERSONS - Proverbs 17:10-13

by willetta pilcher  
10/26/2007 / Parenting

There are some people who never seem to learn. This person is the one Solomon refers to when he says, Proverbs 17:10 "A rebuke impresses a man of discernment more than a hundred lashes a fool."

A man of discernment, one who has good common sense, understands when he is rebuked just why he got in trouble. He is willing to admit his fault and face himself. He does not blame others for his sins and he learns from those mistakes.

A fool on the other hand is one who totally lacks good judgment and ordinary common sense. He refuses to accept responsibility for his own actions. Everyone else is at fault. He can be beaten (incarcerated, rebuked, required to make restitution, or any other punishment) and he will still blame others for his own sins.

A fool is an evil person, bent on having his own way at the expense of everyone else. Proverbs 17:11 "An evil man is bent only on rebellion; a merciless official will be sent against him." An evil person shows opposition to or defiance of authority, accepted moral codes, or social conventions. Their foolishness usually starts in childhood or at least by their teen years. They have an unrealistic view of their own importance. They feel that they deserve more than anyone else. Others are supposed to make them happy and give them whatever they want.

This type person, male or female, usually ends up standing before a judge who has little mercy. Their way of life follows them into court. Talking does little good. Their minds are totally closed to any suggestion that the problem is with them.

As parents and grandparents we need to recognize the improper thinking that is going on inside the mind of individual children. If it is neglected and goes unchallenged a stronghold of magnificent proportions will be built within their minds. Paul said in 2Co 10:4-6 "The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete."

Strongholds are prevented in a large measure through teaching, instruction, and discipline. Notice that there is not room for "force of a cruel nature." A child left to himself will surely become rebellious and very foolish. Pr 29:15 "The rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left to himself disgraces his mother." The rod of correction is a means whereby the child is disciplined in a loving manner so that the discipline will cause him to remember that bad behavior has consequences. It is not administered in anger and in an abusive manner.

Notice in particular the phrase "Left to himself." If a child is pampered and indulged and yielded to in a weak manner he/she will learn quite early that rebellion gets the desired action. That child will develop a stronghold of rebellion quite early in life.

Solomon's description in verse 12 is quite accurate. "Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly." If you mess with Momma Bear's cubs you will experience her wrath. The same is true of the fool. When hindered in anyway, you may expect big time retaliation.

What causes people to become fools? The bottom line is this. It is the sin nature that is resident within each individual person. Circumstances of life and unhealthy thought patterns begin to create strongholds within their minds. They "fight" their battles via rebellion rather than learning from their mistakes.

Thus Solomon says, Proverbs 17:13 "If a man pays back evil for good, evil will never leave his house." These individuals are so miserable on the inside that they become hardened to love of any kind. They wrap themselves in a protective covering, that of rebellion, because they are convinced that others are out to get them.

If love is shown, they tend to wonder what the other person wants from them. They see it as a controlling, manipulating mechanism. In order to expose the love shown as a false love, they tend to dish out huge helpings of evil against those who try to help. When they get the negative response they expect, they in turn assure themselves that they knew that person didn't love them in the first place.

Our world is full of young people who have not seen or experienced genuine love. They've had money and things thrown their way but there has been little time given to talking (teaching & instructing) and listening. Oftentimes parents and teachers simply do not feel they have the time to give to them. What a shame and what a waste!

When strongholds are built within the mind at an early age, it becomes more and more difficult as time goes on, for that person to make a turn around. If there is no change one can rest assured that "Evil (will) follow that person everywhere they go."

We have a mandate from the scripture to be a person of genuine love. A person who does not run from conflict but who responds with loving care. A response that says in essence "I love you too much to ignore you."

Far to often we Christians tend to focus on the behavior instead of on the person. Behavior is merely an outward expression of the turmoil and anger inside. We must learn as parents and teachers to look beyond the outward expression and "see" the person inside. Only then can we truly love.

The scripture says this, Rom 5:6-8 "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

Our rebellion toward the Lord Jesus did not change His love for us one iota. In fact, he laid down his life for us long before we were born even though He knew we would be rebellious and foolish. His pure love brought us to Him and brought peace with God into our lives.

Willetta has spent most of her life ministering to people. In her late seventies, and a wheelchair now her mode of travel, she now ministers to people through the internet. Her webs are...
www.teachmethyways.org
www.successwithkids.org
www.theseedsower.org

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