What practical steps can we take to avoid the folly described in Proverbs 27:22? Reading the Verse “Though you grind a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain, yet his folly will not depart from him.” (Proverbs 27:22) The Unyielding Nature of Folly • The picture is graphic: even the harshest external pressure cannot squeeze folly out of a stubborn heart. • Fools cling to their way because they refuse correction (Proverbs 1:7). • Real change must start internally, by God’s truth reshaping the mind and heart. Why Some Hearts Stay Hard • Pride resists the fear of the LORD, the foundation of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10). • Self-reliance rejects divine authority and healthy accountability (Proverbs 12:15). • Selective hearing—listening to advice that flatters rather than confronts—reinforces old patterns (2 Timothy 4:3-4). Practical Steps to Walk Clear of Such Folly Start with the Fear of the LORD • “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge” (Proverbs 1:7). • Acknowledge God’s rightful rule over every choice and attitude. Cultivate a Teachable Spirit • Welcome correction as a gift, not an insult (Proverbs 15:31-32). • Keep a journal of reproofs received and how you responded—track growth. Soak in Scripture Daily • “I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You” (Psalm 119:11). • Read, meditate, and memorize; let truth saturate thought patterns (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Practice Immediate Obedience • “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you deceive yourselves” (James 1:22). • Act on each insight before the day ends; obedience cements wisdom. Choose Wise Companions • “He who walks with the wise will become wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed” (Proverbs 13:20). • Purposefully spend time with believers whose lives display maturity. Invite Accountability • Meet regularly with a trusted brother or sister to confess sin and celebrate victories (Galatians 6:1-2). • Give them permission to ask hard questions about attitudes and habits. Guard the Heart • “Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life” (Proverbs 4:23). • Limit media, conversations, and environments that feed pride or rebellion. Pray Continually for Wisdom and the Spirit’s Fruit • “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God… and it will be given to him” (James 1:5). • Depend on the Holy Spirit to produce self-control and gentleness (Galatians 5:22-23). Keep an Eternal Perspective • Remember that every decision echoes into eternity (2 Corinthians 5:10). • Let future accountability before Christ motivate present humility. Putting It All Together Folly lodges in the heart that shuts out God’s voice, but a humble, teachable disciple invites Scripture, the Spirit, and the people of God to do steady internal work. As these practices become habits, wisdom replaces stubborn foolishness, and the grinding mortar of painful consequences is no longer necessary. |
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