“Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult; whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse. Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you” (Prov 9:7,8).
The Wisdom of God always desires to call out lovingly to the lost in need of God’s favor using those who have turned from their own ways and humbly submitted in obedient faith to the ways of God. Proverbs 9 tells how God has prepared a feast and has a table set for those who will heed His call to come and eat of that which will lead to life everlasting in the presence of the Holy One. “Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the ways of understand” (Prov 9:6). But all too often, this invitation from a loving merciful God encounters aught but rejection, at times from those dearly loved such as members of one’s own immediate family. The question then arises as to what to do next.
Over many years, I have learned the wisdom of dealing with this situation in that manner instructed by God rather than by leaning on my own understanding and often emotional desires. I have found myself trying everything under the sun to accomplish to no avail that which only the Father in heaven can do through the work of Holy Spirit. And at times, my efforts have only succeeded in increasing the intensity of rejection on the part of a person to whom I am witnessing. There is a season for things, and much as we would like to say that today is the Day of salvation for everyone, we are cautioned in this regard. And today’s proverb speaks directly to this point of not trying to correct or rebuke mockers, even in the most gentle and loving of ways. It is not always the season for planting of God’s Word.
The very opposite of the desired result can easily occur if we become too vigorous in trying to force acceptance of God’s demand for repentance. It is the office of Holy Spirit to bring conviction of sin (John 16:8) and the godly sorrow bringing true repentance which leads to salvation (2 Corinthians 7:10). Trying to force the issue can easily take one in either of two directions, neither of which are satisfactory. The first is to invite insult if not incur abuse and produce not only dislike but hatred. We must always remember that we’re not dealing with “flesh and blood” issues but with forces of evil as described by Paul in Ephesians 6. In short, one does accomplish much when in argument with a demon.
The other direction which spiritual correction if not evangelism can take is to compromise and not wait for Holy Spirit to bring genuine change of heart. This frequently takes place in churches where ‘cheap grace’ is preached and God’s demand for true repentance with genuine conversion is ignored. Unbelievers are just encouraged to invite Jesus into one’s heart and believe in Him to be saved. Such is so prevalent in present times that there is no wonder that immorality, addictions, divorce, greed, self-indulgence, and disease with premature death is equally as common in our churches as among unchurched people.
This is why Jesus told disciples to not press issues of God’s will on those without ears to hear. “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and ear you to pieces” (Matthew 7:6). And in sending disciples, Jesus said, “As you enter a home, give it your greeting. If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it. If it is not, let your peace return to you. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home” (10:12-14). Nowhere does scripture exhort us to challenge mockers of God with what ears have not been prepared by God to receive.
