Pain in Correcting Mockers

Scripture:
The one who corrects a mocker
will bring dishonor on himself;
the one who rebukes a wicked man will get hurt.
Don’t 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 learn more.
Proverbs 9:7-9

Observation: The teacher advises in how to share wisdom with others. Very bluntly, sharing wisdom with the mockers and evil doers - trying to correct those who adamantly reject wisdom - will only bring hardship and pain upon yourself. However, correcting and instructing wise people who seek even greater wisdom will yield fruit in their lives. Wise people embrace and cherish even more instruction, while ignorant people fight against wisdom itself along with anyone who attempts to provide wisdom.

Application: This is so practically relevant to my life today. As I attempt to guide people in improved ways of doing out jobs, I find two people ... those who a hungry to lessons, and those who resist any new idea. Many of those who resist dig in deep, and some of them fight and lash out and attack as if they are in conflict with me. These same people take actions that have no design to advance services or the community, but rather simply secure their authority and make them feel self-important.

Wisdom is clear in her teaching - attempting to bring wisdom to these wicked people will hurt me. If I correct them, they will hate me. If I persist in that correction, I will eventually be dishonored. This is timely guidance for my action today.

Prayer: Lord, you are wise and just and merciful. You are also loving and gentle and kind. May I have proper context today, focusing on that which is truly important, and working around issues that are not. I will seek to serve others following your path, and not a path through conflict. Amen.