Some people mistake God’s love and acceptance of us with a license to sin. They think, “God accepts me anyway, so why change? Why not live the way I want?”
But in this passage, we see that a wise person is willing to change.
This chapter starts and ends with two calls. One is a call from Wisdom, who prepares her house for us, and invites us in, saying,
Let all who are simple come in here…
Come, eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed. Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of understanding. (Proverbs 9:4-5)
So many people are living ignorant of the consequences of their actions. They naively think that everything will work out all right just living the way that they are.
But all the while, the path they’re taking is leading them to pain and ultimately, death.
Wisdom cries out, “Don’t just stay the way you are! Leave your naive ways. I’ve got something better for you, that will give you life.”
The woman Folly, however, says,
Let all who are simple come in here…Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious!” (16-17)
In other words, “Continue living the way you are. Sin is sweet. It’s tasty and brings delight.”
What kind of person are you? Are you willing to change?
God does indeed love you as you are. But he loves you far too much to just leave you in the mud pile that you have been living in.
Solomon writes,
Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult; whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse.
Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you.
Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning. (7-9)
Jesus put it this way,
Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces. (Matthew 7:6)
Jesus says don’t give the mocker (“dogs” or “pigs”), the pearls of wisdom you have, because they won’t appreciate it. Rather, they’ll just tear into you.
If on the other hand, you give your pearls to the wise, Solomon says that they’ll become wiser still.
The question we need to ask ourselves, however, is, “Are we wise? Or are we mere dogs and pigs?”
When people rebuke you, how do you take it? Do you take some time to reflect on what they say? Or do you just throw it back in their faces?
Are you humble enough to accept correction from others? More than that, are you humble enough to accept correction from God?
Only in humbling ourselves before him, and accepting his correction will we find true wisdom and true life.
As Solomon wrote,
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
For through wisdom your days will be many, and years will be added to your life.
If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer. (Proverbs 9:10-12)
Moment to Moment (Bible blog) 