Proverbs 25:12
Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold
Is a wise reprover to a listening ear.
People have a hard time listening to correction. In Proverbs a constant theme of Solomon's admonition is this arena of listening to God's Wisdom when it is presented by a "wise reprover" and coupled with a "listening ear." This combination is such a great thing Solomon compares it to seeing a fine earring or fine gold jewelry. Gold sells. Put gold on something and you get someone's attention. We see it from Madison Avenue all the time. Look at a bill board or a TV commercial or a magazine ad and you will see many with sparkling jewelry and shinny ornaments. It attracts our attention. It shows something refined and it shows us something of value. In this proverb Solomon uses the same thought to demonstrate not some material and temporal possession but an eternal and remarkable event ... someone listening and applying God's truth from someone who has skill to deliver it. It is a matter of importance that Solomon draws attention to the fact that someone is not simply listening to God's Word but also that God's Word is being delivered in a wise way by the "reprover." Sometimes it is in the delivery that we see fruit. God's Word needs to be delivered to the ear in a manner worthy of God's Word. We can't simply fling the Word around and use it as a battering ram on those who need to hear it. A wise reprover invites a listening ear. Yes, there are some who won't hear us because they reject the truth of God's Word no matter how it is delivered. But there are far too many who are beat over the head with God's Word and they find the method offensive more than the truth. Make sure you take as much care in the delivery of God's truth as you do the importance of the delivery. Maybe there would be more listeners and others would see the beauty of them hearing and responding.
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