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Proverbs 28:23 – The 4 Conditions of an Effective Reprimand
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Reflective Thinking
There are 4 conditions that must be met in order for a reprimand to bring more favor than genuine compliments. The first condition that must be met is the reprimand must be towards a wise man. Doing so to anyone else will be futile. I’ll repeat that another way, reprimanding a fool is a waste of time and effort. The other conditions that must be met are the following: the reprimand must be done appropriately, the reprimand must be done in the right way, and the reprimand must be done at the right time.
Action Idea
First thing, ensure you are a person who responds to a reprimand as a wise person would. One of the best ways you gain wisdom is by reading, seeking, and meditating on God’s wisdom on a daily basis. Through the process of becoming a wise person, you’ll naturally respond to reprimands appropriately and you’ll also learn how to appropriately give advice and reprimand others.
Proverbs 27:1 – Wisdom Today For Tomorrow
Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.
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Reflective Thinking
I love this verse. It’s a great reminder that God is still in control. We truly don’t know with 100% certainty what will happen in the future. It’s important to notice what God is telling us here. He is teaching us to not boast about tomorrow. Additional, God does not want us to stress or worry about tomorrow. He wants you to know He will meet all of your needs. With that said, it is a wise and good thing to pray, plan, and prepare for tomorrow.
Action Idea
Let us stop boasting, stressing, and worrying about tomorrow. Doing those things won’t bear anything good. Instead, when it comes to tomorrow, let’s start praying, planning, and preparing with wisdom. Either way, we do not know what a day may bring. That is wisdom today for tomorrow.
Proverbs 26:4-5 – How to Communicate with a Fool
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Reflective Thinking
If we come across a situation where it is required that we respond to a fool, this proverb teaches us communication wisdom. First thing, we should not answer (or agree) with a fool and his foolishness. After that, we are instructed that if we do choose to respond, we are to answer a fool with wisdom and correct their mistaken foolishness. The difficult part is to discern when it’s important to correct the fool. Conversely, in most cases and with most people it’s better to correct in private. I believe making that choice and responding with wisdom and love to a fool will require the Holy Spirit. The core wisdom here is that we need help from God to communicate at our best.
Action Idea
Don’t take the easy path and respond with emotion and foolishness when talking with a fool. Instead, ask God for an increase in wisdom and for Him to help you through situations where you come across foolish people. Remember, sometimes the wisest thing you can do when responding to a fool is not say anything, especially if you are not led be the Spirit and confident in what you’re going to be saying.