Today’s Blog: The Scoff is a Bear

TODAY’S PROVERB: If you are wise, you are wise to your own advantage, but if you scoff, you bear it alone. Proverbs 9:12, TLV

Sometimes it surfaces at the most inconvenient times. A scoff. I don’t always feel it coming until it spews from my mouth. It’s embarrassing. It’s shameful. Often it means people around me take a step back. This proverb proves all too true: I must bear the aftermath — any damage I may have caused — alone.

When the scoff hurts others . . . Golly. I hate those especially. I don’t mean to do it. And, I feel icky afterwards. Maybe not right away. But, eventually, the Holy Spirit will convict me.

Why would a person who loves the LORD, earnestly seeks to walk in His precepts, why would they scoff? The easy answer is we’re human. But if we want to have a fighting chance to work on ourselves, we have to dig a little deeper. Maybe a lot deeper.

First the definition of scoffing: an expression of scorn, derision, or contempt.

“But the things that proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart, and those things make the man unholy.”

YESHUA, MATTHEW 15:18, TLV

Scoffing is a warning sign. There’s something off in the heart. There are any number of things that it could be, but here are a few that I noticed in my own life:

• Disappointment: something we prayed for didn’t happen, someone lets us down,
• Tiredness: Just like children who miss a nap and can be grumpy, we can say things and feel things, when we’re tired. It’s also easier to become more frustrated and disappointed.
• Weariness: If we have worked and walked this faith journey for any period of time, we’ve experienced that weariness. Those prayers that have gone unanswered. The ministry that just hasn’t seen the forward movement that we had hoped.
• Unforgiveness: This is the biggie. Unforgiveness breeds rejection, anger, bitterness, disappointment, weariness, isolation, contempt, hatred. These emotions can be more than what we feel, they can be sins. Real, repent-able sins.

Housekeeping . . .

When our heart is cluttered with unhealthy emotions and sins, it’s only logical that we’ll spew from time to time. We won’t be able to hide that junk for long.

That housecleaning begins with spending time with our Heavenly Father. Taking the time means, well, taking the time. Big cleaning in our homes can take hours, days. But, if we don’t do it, eventually the dirt will overtake the house. Same with us, right?

Daily cleaning makes the process that much easier.

What is helpful about the scoff is that it points to a problem that needs attention. When it happens, we should step back and sequester ourselves with our Father. Let the Holy Spirit reveal and convict, then repent and apply that atoning blood so hard-won by Jesus. And, if we’ve offended or harmed anyone, repent to them as well.

“Let no harmful word come out of your mouth, but only what is beneficial for building others up according to the need, so that it gives grace to those who hear it.”

PAUL, EPHESIANS 4:29, TLV

If we’re finding it difficult to find beneficial and encouraging words for others, seek our Daddy. Be grateful that He’s not allowing us to live in the filth and showing us the uncleanness of our hearts. Once we’ve cleaned up, those gracious words will easily come.

May we learn from the scoff, my friends.

Proverbs 9:12 Tree of Life Version – TLV, #tlvbible, #tlvproverbs

PINTEREST GRAPHIC — Thanks for sharing