A mocker dislikes one who corrects him; he will not go to the wise. Proverbs 15:12, TLV
Is There a Mocker in Your Life? We’ve all felt the sting of someone mocking us — those not-so-humorous insults, an unflattering imitation. Mocking is teasing on steroids.
In the moment, we may not always realize that we were just mocked, but eventually the wound sets in and we’re not quite sure what to do next. We wonder why this person purposely disrespected us.
If we have corrected an immature person — who also may be insecure — they might respond negatively by mocking. Attention placed on a fault can send some folks into defensive mode. Which is what today’s proverb focuses on.
Why Do People Mock Others?
But why do people routinely mock others? Experts say that mockers are unhappy about important matters in their life. As a result they can be resentful of others they perceive as happy and well-adjusted in life.
Again, it’s the insecurity issue and it’s personal. They want to hurt or 
embarrass because they felt or feel hurt or embarrassed. It’s a position of power when they have felt powerless.
Left unresolved, mockers can escalate into bullies. Bullies will mock and intimidate at random as well as at specific targets. This can cause serious problems in a family, community, or place of employment.
What are Ways to Handle Mockers?
How do we handle mockers? According to this passage, mockers generally won’t seek help with this bad behavior. They may not think of it as bad behavior — just a little joking around.
If we are in a position of authority over the person, then there’s a better chance of speaking into the mocker’s life.
If not, there are a few things we can do.
- Be Calm: First, know that what a mocker wants is a negative response from us — anger, hurt, sadness. They feel out of control. Hurting others is a way to have control. When our response is calm or dismissive, we take away their power to manipulate us.
- Be Honest: If the comment hurts or is offensive, be honest. Employing grace and mercy, let our response be calm. Who knows this could be a teaching moment. Or perhaps the person just needs a loving response.
- Forgive: Next, forgive that person. No matter how it hurts, we forgive because we must.
- Pray for Them: Finally, pray for that person. If the root of their bad behavior is little or no self-esteem, then that’s a potential for GOD’s restoration. And, who knows, He may open the door to minister to them.
What About Us?
If we’re someone who likes to joke around, we can be susceptible to temptation to mock others. Watch the face and body language of the person. If there are physical tells that we’ve just offended or hurt them, apologize immediately and ask for forgiveness.
Mocking erodes trust. For that very reason we should be extra cautious, don’t you think?
Think More About It
Are there mockers in your life? How do you handle them?
Do you have a habit of making sarcastic remarks—even if they seem funny to us? How will you handle them in the future?
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