“Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.” Proverbs 23:9
Close to the heart of every faithful Christian is a genuine concern for the good of others. We grieve when we observe one following a foolish path, and the Godly instinct is to reach out with words of truth and light. Every Godly person benefits tremendously from words of admonishment and correction, whether spoken from the pulpit or delivered in private conversation. And so, it is difficult at times to let go, to speak no more words, to allow the fool to continue on the path to certain ruin. But we must. Paul eagerly shared the gospel with the Jews in Acts 13. But when it was evident that they were not interested in his words, he “shook off the dust of their feet against them” and moved on to other opportunities. Knowing when to stop making an effort to help another requires great wisdom that none simply has on his own. As a pastor, discerning this is one of the most difficult things to do. The reality is this: There are only so many moments in a day. Our focus should be on ministering to those who recognize their need for help and want that help. An individual who must be “forced” into help most likely is not being helped at all. This whole discussion reminds once again of our need for grace – grace to help, and grace to discern who to help.