One evening last week, I arrived home from work to a cacophony of excited little voices. My four children were competing for volume to be the one to deliver the day’s delightful news: Benaiah (age 7) had taught Charlotte (age 4) how to swing. My heart soared for three reasons:

1. Charlotte had learned a new skill.
2. She had such a great older brother who took the time to teach her.
3. They couldn’t wait to tell me and to have Charlotte show off her mad skillz.

Dimitris Papazimouris (2008), Creative Commons

Such is wisdom’s arc in our lives: We hear it. It changes and matures us in the fear of the Lord. It moves us to influence others toward spiritual maturity. Since wisdom beautifies its possessors (Prov 1:9), the wise must share this beauty with those they love.

And so the banquet is prepared; the feast is spread. In Proverbs 1-9, Solomon has constructed a framework for understanding wisdom so we can flourish as the people of God. Now we can’t help but seek others’ flourishing as well. And we must do so wisely.

Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse,
and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury.
Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you;
reprove a wise man, and he will love you.
Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser;
teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
For by me your days will be multiplied,
and years will be added to your life.
If you are wise, you are wise for yourself;
if you scoff, you alone will bear it. (Prov 9:7-12, ESV)

Find Your Students

In Prov 9:7-9, observe the progression of verbs from statements of fact (“Whoever corrects…he who reproves…”) to imperatives (“Do not reprove…Give instruction…”). Verse 8 clarifies the connection: Because a scoffer will hate you, do not reprove him. However, your instruction will make a wise man wiser and grow his love for what you have to offer.

Some people should be instructed; others should not. The point is simple enough, but how often we resist its application!

In my young adulthood, I went through a “sold-out-for-Jesus” phase where I felt the need to defend God’s honor against anyone who spoke his name as a piece of profanity. Even since, I’ve struggled with confronting unbelievers for their sexual sin, correcting ungodly parents who refuse to discipline, and speaking my mind way too freely. While desiring to make a difference is praiseworthy, scolding those who don’t want correction is not.

If you want to be a teacher of wisdom, your first test is to find your students. Ask questions; work hard to understand. Once you see how they respond to correction in small things, you’ll discern if they’re ready to hear it in big things.

Take them to God

When you invest God’s wisdom in the right people, amazing things happen. They love you and will express appreciation. Their lives will change, and they’ll credit you as a prime mentor.

But beware these doomed, potentially damnable words:

• “I’ve never had a friend like you before…”
• “I’ve had bad experiences with Christians, but you’re so much different from all the rest…”
• “I don’t think I’ll find this quality of teaching anywhere else…”

These statements are not inherently wrong, but they may signal an unhealthy dependence. Honoring our teachers is good and right, as long as we never put them in the place of God. Remember the beginning of wisdom (Prov 9:10). Always remind your students of the beginning. Ferociously guard the beginning.

True insight is knowing the Holy One. Nothing more; nothing less.

Remember their Responsibility (and Yours)

When you stay firmly planted in the fear of the Lord, you’ll find a sober view of success. Your life (both temporal and eternal) comes not from how many followers you have, but from the Lord himself—mediated through his wisdom (Prov 9:11-12).

People can’t get “in” with God just because they follow your school of thought. If you could be perfectly wise and righteous, you could still deliver only yourself (Ezek 14:12-20). Not a single soul—be it your student, disciple, parishioner, devotee, son, or daughter—could ride your coattails to glory. “If you are wise, you are wise for yourself.”

Of course, only One could actually have saved himself. Praise God he chose not to. Our job—even our message—is but to believe in him and have eternal life.