If the field's not ready, don't waste the seed...
"Do
not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the good sense of your
words." (Proverbs 23:9 ESV)
Of
this verse, the ESV Study Bible says, "The problem is not the fool’s lack
of intelligence but his obstinacy."
Let's
start here: "The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God.'" (Psalm
14:1a ESV; and the same words again in Psalm 53:1)
Let's
then go here: " For the wicked boasts of the desires of his soul, and the
one greedy for gain curses and renounces the LORD. In the pride of his face the
wicked does not seek him; all his thoughts are, 'There is no God.'" (Psalm
10:3-4 ESV)
Should
we then not witness to a person who does not believe in God? That's not what
I'm saying. We proclaim Jesus, and trust Him with results.
There's
something else here; when people adamantly claim they do not believe in God, we
are left to pray, for our biblical counsel and words of testimony about the
Lord are at best ignored, and often the source of anger. That person will not
see your words as "good sense." Often, they will even scoff and mock.
[It is strange to think that people who say they don't believe in God can be so
angry at Him...] In Proverbs 9:7, the writer says, "Whoever corrects a
scoffer gets himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man incurs
injury."
That
being said, let us operate in wisdom, not in emotions. When we discover our words
are being despised, simply understand what is going on without it tossing your
heart about in anger or other un-useful responses.
Then,
pray. Ask God to soften hearts. Ask Him to plow the soil and prepare it for
seed. Then, pray some more, and wait on the Lord.
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