Proverbs 9:7-9 — Don't help me.

READ THIS: Proverbs 9:7-9

7 Whoever corrects a mocker invites insults; whoever rebukes the wicked incurs abuse. 8 Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you; rebuke the wise and they will love you. 9 Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.

WHAT’S THIS MEAN, ANYWAY?
 
Yesterday, Lady Wisdom was inviting ALL people to come and follow her. Today, neither Folly nor Wisdom is speaking, so these words are coming from Solomon/a narrator. 

In short, Solomon says wise people take advice/assistance well, while unwise people respond in anger/joking. Have you ever seen someone get incredibly upset when they mess up and someone tries to help? I know I can be that way. This used to happen to me a lot when I would do math homework. I would not understand how to do it, and one of my friends would try to help. Instead of being grateful, I would snap and say, "I already knew that; I'm not dumb." 

It was different in English, though. I would show my mom my essays sometimes, and I was a lot more willing to take her advice because I REALLY cared about English, and I wanted to have the best essay ever. Besides, I didn't feel dumb in English...I just knew that essays could always get better. (Although...sometimes, even so, I would get mad at my mom if I felt like she thought what I wrote was bad...)

THINK ABOUT IT:

1. Is Solomon really saying NOT to correct people? If Solomon does want us to correct people, then why does he write "do not rebuke mockers?"

2. When someone tries to help you and you respond in anger or joking....why do you do that? I do that because it makes me feel dumb, and I want to feel smart. What about you? Do you think you don't need help? Or something else?
 
TRY THIS:

Think about an area that you could actually use some help/guidance in. It could be the best way to pack for college, the best way to finish your summer reading that you haven't started, or it could be how to love your friends better. Now, ask someone for help so that you can practice being more like the wise person in the verses than the foolish one. 












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