Who am I?

Proverbs introduces us to many types of people: the wise person, the simple (or naive) person, the fool, the scoffer, the slothful (or sluggard) and the evil person.

It seems prudent to identify and relate to each type of person introduced in order to obtain a clear characterization of each individual. Hereby we can strive to stay clear from the presence of certain individuals and/or prevent acquiring these characteristics within our own personality. The Bible says you will know a tree by its fruit…so….you will know a person by his words and actions…his fruit.

The easiest person to start with seems to be the slothful or sluggard individual…aka the LAZY person.
9He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster
25The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour. 26He coveteth greedily all the day long:
30I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; 31And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. 32Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction. 33Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: 34So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.
This type of person will only be a drain on the wise person. We should be able to recognize this type of person by his actions…which are few and unproductive.

The simple or naïve person seems to be what we all start out as when we are born. Totally void of life’s experiences and the inability to relate our current actions with future consequences. Andy Stanley in ‘The Best Question Ever’, says this type of person is the ‘clueless’ individual. Since we all start out this way, it seems to be an unavoidable condition for everyone.

How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?
7The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
130The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.

The Best Question Ever is to ask your self BEFORE you do something:
In light of my past experience, my present circumstances, and my future hopes and dreams, what is the wise thing for me to do?
15See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
For the naïve person, it would be to know that they don’t know and to not be afraid to ask them that do know. This is one of the characteristics of a wise person (more on this later). But most often the naïve person believes that the parent or adult is just over-reacting. A good example is the girl that says, ‘It was just a kiss, how am I going to get pregnant!!?!! It was just one kiss.’ Not realizing that it is always a series of bad decisions that leads us into the one compromising situation that will have repercussions that will last a lifetime. This is why we must set such high standards that are much more morally and ethically stringent than societies or we will be baited to the edge by society and fall prey to the evil man. Just look around at the morally suicidal culture we live in and this will be made clear. How often can we see our culture creating a world of instant gratification, of sex, drug and violence being the norm and the expected from our children. If the adults do not take hold of their children and teach them correctly at the naïve stage, they will be morally and spiritually bankrupt by their teenage years, and thus will become the fool and/or scoffer.

The fool is the one that just doesn’t care. They see the warning labels and they are just insensitive to the situation. They believe they can handle anything that comes their way as it comes. These are the types of people that will stay in the situation until the very last minute…the go cart will be breaking up and all of the wheels are shaking and the it is about to fall apart, just before they will admit they need help. Most often it takes the situation getting to this stage of development before you can even offer help. They are selfish and believe they can handle it all. As you can see, it seems to be a natural development of a naïve person to the fool if unlearned and unassisted in life’s decisions. I believe that if the situation doesn’t get to the point that they need help, undoubtedly, the fool will become the scorner.

15The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.
11As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.
12Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.
16A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.
1A wise son heareth his father’s instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.
24Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath.
7Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate. 8He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person. 9The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.
6Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding. 7He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot. 8Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.

The scorner is the person that is the ‘know-it-all’ and he will criticize every situation because he knows how to do it best. He is the one that will rip apart any suggestions or positive influence or success, showing all of the flaws and mistakes and ways that he would have done it different and better. He is the one that will not take advise but has plenty of advise to give. This type of person there is no help for and it is suggested in the Bible to STAY AWAY FROM. They will only learn when it is either too late or they have hit rock bottom.

The interesting part is that the Bible says that when they need wisdom, they will not be able to find it. They will not be able to make a wise decision when sooner or later, as life always brings us, a situation will arise that requires wisdom and they will make the dumbest decision ever.

The wise and the evil person I will continue with after I do some more research and have time to reflect more on what I have written.