Skip to main content

Mockery &

             Whoever mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker; whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished. (Proverbs 17:5)

I seem to have a theme about enemies, and today’s passage may be a case of “Xth verse, same as the first.” But this is a verse I think a lot of popular commentators and the rest of us need to consider. To mock is to “tease or laugh at in a scornful or contemptuous manner.” This is the stock-in-trade of many people in our society. Some people even think it’s an appropriate measure of discipline for someone who had “strayed” as long as they are the people doing the shaming.

Specifically, today’s Scripture says that mocking the poor shows contempt for their Maker. There are many ways to be poor: finances, education, social graces, health, intelligence, strength, wisdom, courage, physical appearance, physical condition, sanity, common sense, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, sobriety, hope, punctuality, honesty, honor … The list may not be endless, but it’s long. Effectively, anything we mock someone about is likely to connect to some poverty we find in the person and today’s verse makes it clear that God isn’t likely to chuckle and agree with us if we mock others.

Going beyond mocking, the verse also tells us that gloating over someone’s disaster is sin. Celebrating the misfortune of a person or group we don’t like or agree with is wrong. Celebrating the demise of a person is wrong. In short, trashing another person is neither or prerogative nor our calling. God may forgive, but He won’t shrug it off as nothing.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"Especially to those who belong to the family of believers."

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Gal 6:10)   “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.   By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)           Joshua grinned when he saw Rex standing by the door, studying something on the ground. "Hey, man! Are we ready to do this thing?"          Rex looked up. "Josh, I can't do it. We're still best buds, but I can't stand your fiancée."           I've met "Rex" many times. I've been Rex. Joshua (Jesus) loves the Church. He's not a fool. He knows the Church is far from perfect, but she is His chosen bride. The Rexes of this world, who think themselves His friend, turn away from her. "You don't need the Church to...
Post a Comment
Read more

Ssssssubmmissssssionnn

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ . (Ephesians 5:21)             "Ssssssubmmisssssssionnn." Can't you just hear the serpent hissing this most horrible of words? If you listen to the serpent or the world, submission means groveling, allowing yourself to be abused, denying yourself your own humanity. Nothing could be worse than submission, could it?             Submission has never been a problem for me, as long as things are going the way I want them to. The rest of the time? Well, let's just say that while I don't know how to fight physically, I don't know how to not fight mentally. One of the fights I've been having with myself for years is about submission.             My first breakthrough took place on a trip to a bookstore. As I walked into the store, my thoughts were very clear. 1) I was goi...
Post a Comment
Read more

The List

              Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,   through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;   perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. (Romans 5:1-5)           Think about it. We have been justified. At least, we could be justified if we stopped insisting that our justification be based on our merits. We have peace with God, or could have peace if we stopped throwing temper tantrums. We have gained access into grace i...
Post a Comment
Read more