Monday Reading: Proverbs 26:4-5
Key Verse: Proverbs 26:4
4 Do not answer a fool according to his foolishness, lest you also be like him.
Devotion:
At first glance you may well think that these two proverbs contradict each other, but what they in fact are doing is strengthening each other. When we meet people that are non-believers, evil or contra anything, we need to be careful how we respond to them. If we respond in the wrong way, we will be weakening our position and strengthening their position or destroying ours and building up theirs.
Key Verse: Proverbs 26:4
4 Do not answer a fool according to his foolishness, lest you also be like him.
Devotion:
At first glance you may well think that these two proverbs contradict each other, but what they in fact are doing is strengthening each other. When we meet people that are non-believers, evil or contra anything, we need to be careful how we respond to them. If we respond in the wrong way, we will be weakening our position and strengthening their position or destroying ours and building up theirs.
There will be times when we just have to keep our mouths shut to gain the best advantage. At those times we may well feel like shouting back and giving them what they deserve, but keeping quiet may well gain us more. Christ, when He faced the Scribes and Pharisees, kept His mouth so that He would be able to have the last word on the cross. Like Him, we have to be willing to take the cause of Christ all the way – we are living for Him and not for ourselves. We need to listen to His guidance so that we will know when to keep still and let God do the work rather than thinking we can do it all! As soon as we respond by shouting or reviling, we are lowering ourselves to our enemies position; we are then no better than them!
We learn so much through doing God's will and through reading His Word. It is a pity not to actually use that knowledge when we are faced with people who clearly do not know about Christ. Giving them the chance to see just how strong a position we are in because of our belief is going to heap up coals on them and allow them to think about Christ too. Using the wisdom that God has given us through His Word will allow us to talk some sense to people who do not believe. Too many people believe that they can do things their own way. They think that if they are good enough, they will make it to heaven. They think that they will be able to make their own way there. We can see the folly of their ways – we need to give them knowledge of the one true way to heaven. They imagine their science and reasoning will get them places... the only place it will get them is head of the fools...
Points to Ponder:
Are you easily provoked?
Are you apt to believe people or God?
Are you easily provoked?
Are you apt to believe people or God?