If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.” Proverbs 9:12

I like the contrasts in this verse because we’ve done them both at times (and the latter more often than we care to remember). It’s telling us that wisdom is a reward in itself. The opposite in this case, mockery, also rewards the mocker. I know for me, it’s often my dry sarcasm or the thoughtless cynicism that gets me into trouble. I think it’s especially important to be on our guard when we’ve just been dealt a tough blow or a serious setback. It’s all too easy to do, and of course the Holy Spirit will later (or even at the time) will remind you what you just said.

But the fantastic news is that as we grow wiser and wiser, we will be rewarded for it.