| Our verse to DATE the Word on December 16 (12/16) is Proverbs 12:16 |
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| Proverbs 12:16 says, “The anger of a fool is known at once, but the prudent ignores an insult.” |
| The Wise Carefully CHOOSE their Responses to the Critic In the multitude of contrast found in Proverbs comes the contrasting response to the critic. The fool responds with indignation to the insult while the prudent (the wise) ignores the insult. What a totally different response. The fool is ready to beat the person up while the prudent brushes it off. The fool has no patience and explodes in retaliation. The fool has no filter! Their action only makes the matter worse. The prudent will carefully choose their response with patience and will refuse to engage in senseless name-calling so as to defuse the matter. Having read the above where are you in your response to the critic? Are you more like the FOOL who is quick-tempered, with a short fuse, and responds with equal or MORE force? Are you more like the prudent? BTW – I like to define the prudent as one who carefully considers the consequences of their choices. Do you carefully consider your responses to the critic? Allow me to share a few thoughts on responding to the critic’s insults: Proverbs 15:1 A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger. NLT “A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.” Proverbs 23:9 Don’t speak to a fool, for he will despise the insight of your words. Working with Dr. Jerry Falwell, who had many insults hurled at him, I heard him many times say never defend yourself as your friends don’t need and your enemies will not believe you anyway. As you live and breathe living and serving the Lord you will be attacked and criticized. I had only been a Christian a short time when I encountered vicious name-calling. My past life without Christ was demanding a response of both verbal and physical, but the new life in Christ was calling for self-control. I ignored the insults that day. It was not easy! Let us remember that as Christians our testimony is so often revealed by our temper and our tongue. We reveal just how different we are when we don’t return an insult with an insult. Verse to DATE the Word on December 16 (12/16) is Proverbs 12:16. It says, “The anger of a fool is known at once, but the prudent ignores an insult.” Continue Strong with self-control of temper and tongue! And remember to DATE THE WORD |