A Wise Learner

Do not reprove a scoffer, lest he hate you, reprove a wise man and he will love you. Give knowledge to a wise man and he will be still wiser, make a righteous man know it, and he will increase his learning. - Prov. 9:8–9.

In his, what I would call the "litany of a disciple maker," Solomon gave some simple instruction to those who act in a position of spiritual or moral leadership of others. Applying this instruction, it is possible for us to evaluate the personal maturity of the learner as well as examine those who teach.

1) Does the learner love the one who rebukes him? They must be wise.

2) Is the learner growing in wisdom and instruction? Again, they must be wise.

3) Do they learn more than others when taught God's truth? If so, they reveal the presence of Christ within.

Mockers and those rebellious toward God do none of the above. They dislike (or even hate) the one who rebukes. They do not grow in wisdom and instruction. They do not learn and reveal only darkened and unrepentant hearts.

Are you a wise learner?

Father, make of me a crisis man. Bring those I contact to decision. Let me not be a milepost on a single road; make me a fork, that men must turn one way or another on facing Christ in me. - Jim Elliot