Wise Men Needed!

The Book of Proverbs is full of wisdom. Today is June 29th so I am reading Chapter 29 of Proverbs.

What would ‘Wise Men’ look like in the current climate of our nation? Verse 8 gives some insight: “Mockers stir up a city, but wise men turn away anger.”  To mock is to make fun of or to mimic someone with contempt and or ridicule. The mocker stirs up angry emotions and brings out hatred and the worst of us. 

How do we turn away anger? Looking back at chapter 15 of Proverbs, verse 1 states, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” If I am to be a wise man, I must resist the temptation to ridicule someone who disagrees with me.  Rather, I must be very intentional about how I respond to criticism and anger. God’s Word clearly guides me to be prepared to effectively turn away that anger with the tone of my voice, my choice of words and my nonverbal communication.  

What other wisdom can we find today in Chapter 29?