Uh oh. Are you scoffing?


Proverbs 19:29--Question: Can followers of Yeshua--Jesus--be a scoffer?

What IS a scoffer? There are various definitions but essentially, a scoffer is someone who jeers or mocks or treats something with contempt. They are disagreeable and will scorn the belief of another.

Hmm. That might be coming a little close to home.


Let's dig a little deeper. The act of scoffing comes from a place of contempt--of a person or belief. The ridicule comes from a place of bitterness.

Bitterness. That is something we can all struggle with. A scoffer isn't born, they are made.

Let's face it, there are ample opportunities to be offended, to get our feelings hurt, or for others to hurt and offend those we love. If we're not careful to forgive--and walk out that forgiveness--we can develop a root of bitterness.

That root, when left unattended can become contempt.

What are signs of bitterness:
  • Withdrawal
  • Difficulty resolving conflicts--the need to be right
  • Subtle attacks
  • Outbursts of anger
  • Criticism
  • Hypersensitivity
  • Suspicion and distrust
  • Acts of revenge (verbal or physical)

If we struggle with 2 or more of these signs, we may have a root of bitterness forming.

Hmm. So can a follower of Jesus become a scoffer? Unfortunately, yes.

If we find ourselves feeling or saying remarks that are intentionally condescending or hurtful, then it's time to do some soul-searching. A root of bitterness may have been planted.

The good news is that once we identify the root and deal with it--forgiveness--we don't have to be a scoffer. We can be set free from the root of bitterness.

Then when the inevitable offense or hurt occurs, we can manage it in a Godly manner. We can be angry without sinning. We can respond without mockery or scoffs.

Who knew. Scoffing could be our ticket to freedom.

May we examine our hearts, my friends.

Proverbs 19:29--Judgments are prepared for scoffers, and floggings for the back of fools. Tree of Life Bible Society Tree of Life Version - TLV#tlvbible #tlvproverbs
[WATCH MONDAY through FRIDAY Tree of Life Bible Society's CEO, Daniah Greenberg and me, Terri Gillespie dig a little deeper with the book of Proverbs. Check us out at Tree of Life Bible Society, Monday through Friday, LIVE at 8:30am EST. Watch previous episodes there as well. Stay wise, my friends!]

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

WISDOM'S JOURNEY: Are you being diverted? Proverbs 4:27

Image
Are you being diverted? TODAY'S PROVERB: Do not turn to the right or to the left. Divert your foot from evil. Proverbs 4:27 I love flying at night. It's a vivid perspective of just how small we really are. Looking at the expanse of the sky with its stars is peaceful, stable. Gazing below at the man-made lights that glow with seemingly brighter intensity. But, that glow is temperamental. Subject to the frailties of humanity and technology, and believe it or not, dependent upon the grace of God. This verse reminds me that until we rise above our humanity, we'll be diverted from the bigness of the Creator of the Universe. It seems our world offers a plethora of distractions. They don't have to be evil, they simply have to be distractions that lead to diverting us from God's calling and purpose in our life. Like the bright city lights, they can drown out the still, small pinpricks of true light from the stars. Until we rise above. What are some of the distract...
Read more

WISDOM'S JOURNEY: Are you a voice for God's covenant? Proverbs 2:16-17

Image
Are you a voice for God's covenant? TODAY'S PROVERB: ...to deliver you from a seducing woman—a wayward wife with seductive words, who forsakes the partner of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God. Proverbs 2:16-17 Infidelity. The last few generations tend to think infidelity was something they created. For certain they have developed it into an art form using film, music, literature, and now, social media. Throughout Scrip ture and history, women have played as much of a role in this sin as men. Honestly, as women, we should know better. These days, women tend to look at fornication and adultery as their rights -- their choice. We can justify and defend all we want, but the truth is that it all boils down to this: our choice is whether we sin or don't sin. Not a popular thing to say. There's nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9). Humanity has been sinning since the Garden. And infidelity has the same patterns and outcomes as it did thousands of y...
Read more

WISDOM'S JOURNEY: Are you lame or reliable? Proverbs 25:19

Image
Are you lame or reliable? TODAY'S PROVERB: Like a broken tooth or a lame foot is confidence in the unfaithful in time of trouble. Proverbs 25:19 I have a "trick" ankle. There appears to be no rhyme or reason when it decides to give out. I'll take a step and it's like the bones turn to rubber. A misstep on stairs or a ladder or while carrying something can be treacherous. If I knew what caused the weakness then I could avoid  placing demands on it. But, alas, I don't know, so I can never fully trust it. Today's proverb counsels us about "trick ankle" people. Do you have people like this in your life? For the most part, they are reliable, but at unpredictable -- and inevitably important moments -- they are not reliable. Even when we forgive them for these events, we're still unsure if we can depend on them. It leaves a small residue on our ability to trust them completely -- at least for a season. My ankle is a vivid reminder of the import...
Read more