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GIVE IT NO ENERGY

10/14/2013

1 Comment

 

Pondering the Principles of Proverbs

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Thin-skinned people abound.
Imagined insults set them off with no warning.
Simply utter a certain word, and you will not hear the end of the matter.

After you've been around one of these types for a while, you either begin to act as if you are walking on eggshells, or you seek an exit from their presence. You never know exactly what that "certain word" might be, for it seems to change with the wind.

So, even a disciplined person who has learned to control their speech cannot seem to avoid insulting one of these.

In our over-sensitive, highly-intolerant, politically-corrected police state, you have to wonder whether we really are a nation of the perpetually offended.

If that is the case, then, according to the following Proverb, we must ask, where is prudence?
The vexation of a fool is known at once,
but the prudent ignores an insult.

Pro. 12:16 (ESV)
Obviously, we have no shortage of fools.

Here's the rub--these "offenses" usually occur where no offense is/was intended.

(As I write this, my wife is in the kitchen telling me how she discriminated against Arkansas and Chinese chickens at the grocery store earlier today. Thankfully, no one from the anti-discriminatory police were present to hear her remarks. And, she doesn't even know I am writing about this.)

I offer only one of many anecdotes from my own life to illustrate the point I am trying to make.

I was in the checkout line of the grocery store when I noticed a 9-10 year-old African-American male child. [please note the cumbersome language necessary to avoid using a politically incorrect single word]. I noticed that he was very observant, and made comment on such--my intention being to pay a compliment.

"Wow! You're really an observant boy."
"I'm NOT your boy," came the instant retort.

I know my vocabulary is limited, but the difference between a boy and a man should be evident to anyone who has inhabited this planet for a couple of years.

On the social front, anyone even remotely in the public eye may not say anything that might be offensive to a particular group of people.

The context of the remark has no bearing at all on the outcry for someone's job. That person was 'obviously' insensitive to the plight of so many for him/her to have used such a term. They must be punished.

In the interests of full disclosure and to present the other side, I am fully aware that intended offenses occur on a regular basis. I am not trying to water down the case for true awareness of the disparity of social classes in our classless society. Blacks, gays, Jews, welfare-recipients, mentally disabled, Democrats, and even tall white boys like me suffer from the insults of those who do not understand us.

"Fool" is not a common word in usage today except as a verb of deception.

The wise man, Solomon, said that anyone who is easily insulted is a fool.

The definition for "fool" from the freedictionary.com is given as:
1. One who is deficient in judgment, sense, or understanding.
2. One who acts unwisely on a given occasion

Applied carefully, we can see that anyone who is easily insulted these days fits the definition as given.

It is wise, however, to notice the contrast given in this proverb:
                               the prudent ignores an insult.

Why can we not simply ignore an insult?

In this day and age, when "it is all about me," an insult goes to the core of my belief system.

Is it not interesting that Christians are among this group of those who are easily insulted?
Practical atheism showing up once again.

All comments, questions, and/or criticisms are welcome. They will be posted immediately without the necessity of approval.

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1 Comment
Noella
10/15/2013 10:19:47 am

We talked about this in church this past Sunday - My sister actually expressed it better than I did in my FB post:

The pastor was talking about having an issue with a bro or sister in Christ and how to deal with it. First, you go and have a talk with them face to face. If that doesn't settle the conflict, then the Bible says to take 2 or 3 witnesses and talk with them again face to face with witnesses. If that doesn't settle it, take to the leaders of the church. Sometimes, that doesn't even settle it. In that case, we need to treat them like they were pagans or tax-collectors. However, since Jesus was the one teaching this, we are to treat them as he treated the tax-collectors. He ate with them, talked with them, loved them anyway. In other words, we need to develop thicker skins and just get over it. Love the new ideas (that really aren't so new). We can learn at any age.

Bottom line - just get over it.

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    Dale Hill, PCCCA Certified

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    Dale has been sharing the practical application of the truths from the Bible for more than 40 years. He has often said, "People know how to shout the victory on Sunday, but can't figure out how to handle Monday." This blog is an attempt to help God's people on that journey.

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