Scoffers Amongst Us

Proverbs 9:8-9—A scoffer who is rebuked will only hate you; the wise, when rebuked will love you. Give instruction to the wise, and they will become wiser still; teach the righteous and they will gain in learning.

When I entered academia, one of the first lessons I learned was that in order to teach, I had to be willing to learn.  Teachers must continually re-evaluate their knowledge in light of newly gained information.  Our understanding of the world around us naturally evolves and matures based on the experiences we have.  What is more, in order to be credible in the eyes of our students, we must show a fervor and passion for learning ourselves.  The same is true in our Christian walk – we should never be complacent thinking that we have it all figured out.  We must show a fervor and passion for maturing in knowledge and wisdom.  The other lesson I learned was that, in order to teach, I had to sometimes overcome great skepticism of the student.  Yes, some students come into a classroom believing they have nothing new to learn.  Some think obtaining a degree is a mere technicality, so their willingness to receive new information and knowledge is limited.  They come across as arrogant and self-absorbed—they scoff at new teachings.  It is true that rebuking a scoffer generally causes that person to simply hate you.  But that doesn’t mean a scoffer cannot be taught.  The key is to understand the scoffer’s motivations and trigger their buy-in to whatever it is you are trying to teach them.  In my experience, most people who are arrogant and self-absorbed simply haven’t had enough life-experience to teach them humility.  Usually, exposing them to new experiences provides an appropriate perspective enabling them to break down some of their walls and begin receiving new knowledge.  Perhaps the most important lesson I learned, though, is that a scoffer should never just be discarded.  To be sure, it takes a lot more effort to teach a scoffer.  Sometimes it can be downright unpleasant.  But in the end, there is great reward on both sides.  And, of course, we must also remember that Our Great Teacher never pushes any of us away, not even the greatest scoffers among us. 

Today as you pray and meditate on His Word, praise God for His infinite patience with us who so often think we already know it all.  Pray that you would be open to acknowledging those areas where you really have so much to learn.  Ask for patience when you are both teacher and student. Rejoice in the gifts of knowledge, wisdom, and insight, and commit yourself to pursuing them diligently.