Conceited vs. Wise People

The verse for 9/8 is from Proverbs 9:8, "Never correct conceited people; they will hate you for it. But if you correct the wise, they will respect you."  GNT

I like this translation of this verse because it uses the word "conceited".  Conceited means having an excessively high opinion of oneself.  In other words, correction toward a conceited person will fall on deaf ears - they will hate you for it.  Do you know anyone like that?  I thought so!

When correcting someone in love, we hope to make them aware that their behavior or choices can have negative effects on themselves or others.  A lot of people call that judging.  I have to agree, but with a caveat.  In 1 Corinthians 5:12, believers are given permission to hold other believers accountable for sinful behavior.  Most people like to overlook this part of scripture because, frankly, they're conceited.  They don't want anyone telling them they need to change their behavior.  People will rationalize their behaviors and choices to the moon and back and consider you the bad person for calling a spade a spade.  I guess I should have read this proverb before trying to correct a few people.  I discovered it's wisdom the hard way....a little too late.

People always go back to the "log in the eye" scripture in answer to being held accountable.  Many times, they are justified in doing so, but other times they just need to own their actions and their situation.  That's not easy for most of us to do.  Today's verse indicates that there are those who just won't receive a correction well and will be offended by anyone who could ever have the nerve to call them out on it.  But the verse goes on to tell how a wise person reacts to correction.  It says that the wise will receive your correction and respect you for it. 

I've come to realize that people have to learn to know, believe and obey God's Word for themselves. When they do, their wisdom will lead them to respond accordingly.  Until then, well, let's just say that I'm asking God to give me His discernment on when to open my mouth.