A Man Wise In His Own Conceit

March 1, 2018- Thursday-#633- Daily Morning Bible Reading and Meditation- Proverbs 26 KJV

*** Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.*** 

[3] A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back. 

[4] Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him. 

[6] He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage. 

[10] The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors. 

[11] As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly. 

[12] Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him. 

[15] The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth. 

[16] The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason. 

[22] The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. 

[28] A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.

Thoughts to ponder for today:

A Man Wise In His Own Conceit

From Matthew Henry’s Commentary:

“A spiritual disease supposed, and that is self-conceit: Seest thou a man? Yes, we see many a one, wise in his own conceit, who has some little sense, but is proud of it, thinks it much more than it is, more than any of his neighbours, have, and enough, so that he needs no more, has such a conceit of his own abilities as makes him opinionative, dogmatical, and censorious; and all the use he makes of his knowledge is that it puffs him up. Or, if by a wise man we understand a religious man, it describes the character of those who, making some show of religion, conclude their spiritual state to be good when really it is very bad, like Laodicea, Rev. 3:17 . The danger of this disease. It is in a manner desperate: There is more hope of a fool, that knows and owns himself to be such, than of such a one. Solomon was not only a wise man himself, but a teacher of wisdom; and this observation he made upon his pupils, that he found his work most difficult and least successful with those that had a good opinion of themselves and were not sensible that they needed instruction. Therefore he that seems to himself to be wise must become a fool, that he may be wise, 1 Co. 3:18 . There is more hope of a publican than of a proud Pharisee, Mt. 21:32 . Many are hindered from being truly wise and religious by a false and groundless conceit that they are so, Jn. 9:40, Jn. 9:41 .

Verse 13 When a man talks foolishly we say, He talks idly; for none betray their folly more than those who are idle and go about to excuse themselves in their idleness. As men’s folly makes them slothful, so their slothfulness makes them foolish. Observe, 1. What the slothful man really dreads. He dreads the way, the streets, the place where work is to be done and a journey to be gone; he hates business, hates every thing that requires care and labour. What he dreams of, and pretends to dread—a lion in the way. When he is pressed to be diligent, either in his worldly affairs or in the business of religion, this is his excuse (and a sorry excuse it is, as bad as none), There is a lion in the way, some insuperable difficulty or danger which he cannot pretend to grapple with. Lions frequent woods and deserts; and, in the day-time, when man has business to do, they are in their dens, Ps. 104:22, Ps. 104:23 . But the sluggard fancies, or rather pretends to fancy, a lion in the streets, whereas the lion is only in his own fancy, nor is he so fierce as he is painted. Note, It is a foolish thing to frighten ourselves from real duties by fancied difficulties, Eccl. 11:4 .”

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Just as the conceited and the slothful are both transgression in the sight of The LORD, so as foolishness and talebearers. And most of the time, we unawarely are guilty one way or another.  

Self checked:

Which of these characters  The LORD and others sees in us; within our family, within our work place, within school, in our community, in our ministering to GOD and others?

1. A fool?

2. A man wise in our own conceit?

3. Slothful or Lazy?

4. A Talebearer who sow discord?

This proverbs says:

V. 10 The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors. 

There is always a reward in our every deeds: curse for evil, goodness and blessings for the good.. 

It is always depend on our chosen action. 

Let us be wise to choose aright.

Have a pleasant evening to all! 

Proverbs 26:1-28 KJV

[1] As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool. [2] As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come. [3] A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back. [4] Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him. [5] Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit. [6] He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage. [7] The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools. [8] As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool. [9] As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools. [10] The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors. [11] As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly. [12] Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him. [13] The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets. [14] As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed. [15] The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth. [16] The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason. [17] He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears. [18] As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death, [19] So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport? [20] Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth. [21] As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife. [22] The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. [23] Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross. [24] He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him; [25] When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart. [26] Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation. [27] Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him. [28] A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.