Bible Passage:  Proverbs 9

Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury. Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. For by me your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life.
If you are wise, you are wise for yourself; if you scoff, you alone will bear it.”—Proverbs 9:7-12

The decisions we make in life do not immediately determine our destiny. Rather, it is the pattern of living based on the life decision we made initially, that determines what our life becomes — whether we will be saved or not. This continual lifestyle depends on whether one’s heart is opened to God’s instruction and whether one is teachable.

The passage (v.9 to v.12) here notes that one who is not teachable and whose heart is not opened to God’s instructions is foolish.

Likewise, by correcting a foolish person who does not appreciate or honour the words of wisdom given to him is pointless (Proverbs 9:7-8).

“For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: “‘

“You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.”For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them. ’But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.

For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.”

— Matthew 13:12-16

On the contrary, a wise person will continue learning from God and His people.

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.”— 2 Peter 3:18

Finally, in verse 12, the Lord wants us to build on our character that reflects the true of image of Jesus Himself. The decision to do so lies in our individual choice we make to live up to the life of a Christian. The first step of wisdom is to obey the Lord’s words and instruction.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

The choice of being wise or foolish remains ours today.