Don’t Waste Your Time

Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you;
    reprove a wise man, and he will love you.—Proverbs 9:8

Some efforts are a complete waste of time, energy, and investment—like admonishing a scoffer. And we all know a few scoffers. They are people who are unreceptive, unwilling, and unteachable when presented with shreds of truth. At times they are so unreceptive that they turn to hate the person presenting the truth. But while you'll be quick to list off all the scoffers of your life and even recall their resistant moments, perhaps you would be better served by the wisdom of Solomon if you asked yourself if you are the scoffer? And there is one way to know. It's a simple reflective question: "When people reprove you, do you, in response, genuinely love them?"

JOURNAL THIS: I am resistant to the truth because...

DO THIS: Accept reproof regardless of the person, and thank them today.

PRAY THIS: God, make me wiser, but also make me more willing to accept the reproof that leads to the wisdom I desire.