Proverbs on Foolishness, Rebuke, and Instruction (1st)

The waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them. (1:32) Other versions translate the subject of this sentence as turning away or aimless wandering clearly a lack of direction brings destruction to those who live without purpose The second phrase of the proverb restates this principle with a different slant complacency is a shallow satisfaction with the present state in spite of pending danger, so the fool has no desire for growth or change and no sense of urgency to work today to avoid disaster tomorrow Solomon introduces the proverbs with a warning: How long will you simple ones love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge (1:22) Jeremiah warns the complacent that sin and wickedness brings its own consequence: Your own wickedness shall punish you, and your backslidings shall rebuke you (Jeremiah 2:19) Paul teaches that when men consistently abandon God, He ultimately releases them to their evil ways: Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts. . . (Rom 1:24) As God removes His loving restraint, sin is allowed to run its inevitable and disastrous course (Judges 10:13, II Chron 15:2, 24:20, Ps 81:11-12, Hos 4:17, Mat 15:14, Acts 7:39-42, 14:16) The good news? I love those who love me and those who seek Me find Me (Proverbs 8:17) Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you. Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning. (9:8-9) The proverbs definition of a fool is simply one who will not learn (12:1, 12:15-16, 18:2) A wise person responds to reproof with appreciation, but the fool resists, resents, and reacts One man matures and grows in wisdom the other rebels, hates, and self-destructs A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son grief to his mother. (10:1) He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him. (13:24) A fool spurns his fathers discipline, but whoever heeds correction shows prudence. (15:5) A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to the one who bore him. (17:25) Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. (22:6) Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him. (22:15) The rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left to himself disgraces his mother. (29:15) The eventual result of parental discipline is a mature child and a happy parent (15:20a, 23:1316, 23:24-25, 29:3a) Neglect of discipline produces foolishness in the child and misery for the parent (15:20, 17:21) Discipline is painful but ultimately fruitful: No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful; later on, however, it produces a harvests of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it (Hebrews 12:11) The child not only is delivered from foolishness by the discerning and disciplining parent (whom he can see), but equipped to respond to divine discipline from the Father he cannot see Consider pure joy when you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance . . . so that you may be mature and complete (James 1:2 -3)