Skip to main content

The Punishment

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

Mock: tease or laugh at in a scornful or contemptuous manner:

Contempt: the feeling that a person or a thing is beneath consideration, worthless, or deserving scorn.

Gloat: contemplate or dwell on one's own success or another's misfortune with smugness or malignant pleasure.

I suspect that mocking others is so much a part of our life that we don’t even realize we do it. Holding others (even God) in contempt is a national pastime on the level of baseball. So is gloating over the disasters faced by those we don’t approve. Those who do so will not go unpunished, but once again, the punishment is not necessarily inflicted by someone else, or even by God. At the risk of repeating myself, it’s not magical.

          Years ago, I used anger as fuel. I found things to be angry about because when I was angry, I had the energy to work hard, even at something I didn’t particularly enjoy. It gave my mind something to focus while doing something else, particularly something boring. I became an angry person, even when I didn’t want to be angry anymore. This is what happens to someone who mocks, shows contempt, and gloats. They become more and more the sort of person who mocks, shows contempt, and gloats.

          Others either learn to avoid them or learn to respond in kind. Relationships never develop, end, or are crippled.

          And if challenged about their behavior, those who mock, show contempt, and gloat are likely to claim “it’s all in fun, no harm done” or that “they deserve it.” They’re not picking on the poor. They’re treating the stupid (intellectually poor,) immoral (morally poor,) demonstrating unacceptable behavior (aesthetically poor or lacking in etiquette), or unwoke/woke/asleep, (ethically or culturally poor.) No matter what excuse is offered, it comes back to the person lacking some currency of exchange that the mocker demands. The “rich” mocker may even claim to be doing the poor person a favor by shaming them into earning respect/wealth in some form. And the heart of the mocker atrophies. Take heed. Be careful. Be accountable. It’s not a direction we should want to go.

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

Shark Fins, Triple Dog Dares, Heroes, Villains and Sidekicks

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)            There's a scene in Jaws in which someone sees a shark fin and starts a panic. As   all the swimmers scramble to shore, boats surround the fin, which falls over to reveal two kids. With several guns pointed at them, one of the kids points at the other. The message is clear: it was his idea. In Christmas Story, there's a scene in which one kid "triple dog dares" another to do something stupid. Since it's a triple dog dare, well, what choice does the boy have? There doesn't seem to be any end to the trouble that peer pressure can cause. ...
Post a Comment
Read more