THINK TOGETHER.
Have you ever been made fun of? How did it feel?
READ TOGETHER
Proverbs 1:22. “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?
The book of Proverbs warns us about being fools. What is a fool? It is someone who does not fear God, listen to God, care about what God cares about, or obey God. One type of fool that Solomon mentions in our verse is the scoffer.
A scoffer is someone who is usually very smart, but they are also full of pride and have a very bad attitude. The scoffer thinks that they know better than everyone else, even God. The scoffer laughs at the rules, and is a know-it-all. The scoffer roles their eyes at everything. They think everyone and everything is stupid or boring. The scoffer doesn’t just ask questions; they ask questions that are intended to frustrate or be sarcastic. The scoffer has no respect for their teachers, or pastors, or even parents. Sadly, we live in a world that actually loves scoffers. Many “cool” characters in movies are scoffers (can you think of one). Like we said, scoffers are usually smart and even funny. But they don’t make fun of themselves, they make fun of everyone else. They use their intelligence to disobey and think it’s funny.
Are you a scoffer? If you are, then you should tell God that you are sorry, knowing that God still loves you and has forgiven you through Jesus. Then let the love that Jesus has for you, help you to stop scoffing at the people and the rules that he has put in place to help your life be good and safe. Remember, Jesus never made fun of anyone, and he won’t make fun of you when you sin or are sinned against.
Because of Jesus God will forgive me when I act like a foolish scoffer.
With Jesus we don’t have to be scoffers, instead we can listen and learn from everyone.
DO SOMETHING TOGETHER
Think about some of the TV shows or movies you like to watch. Are they teaching you how to be a scoffer? A mocker? Or are they teaching you to be respectful of both people and rules?
PRAY TOGETHER
Jesus, you didn’t scoff or make fun of people. You didn’t mock others. And you don’t make fun of me when I’m hurt or bad. You always love and forgive. Help me to do the same for others. Amen.
TLICfamily 