Character Test From Proverbs  CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIO

In Proverbs Chapter one there are four types of people listed, the wise, the simple, the scorner and the fool. These same four people are mentioned all throughout the book of Proverbs. In this lesson we are going to let the word of God examine our character and see which if not all of these characteristics match us in one way or another.

The Simple: 

Simple – weak in intellect ; not wise or sagacious, silly.

Proverbs 9:13 (A foolish woman is clamorous , she is simple and knoweth  nothing)

Proverbs 14:15 (The simple believe every word)

Proverbs 14:18 (The simple inherit folly)

Proverbs 22:3 and 27:12 (The simple see evil and instead of turning go straight for it)

The Fool:

Fool – one who is destitute of reason, or the common power of understanding. One who acts

absurdly. In scripture one who follows his own inclinations, who prefers trifling and

temporary pleasures to the service of God.

Proverbs 1:7 (The fool despises wisdom and instruction)

Proverbs 10:8 (The fool will not receive commandments)

Proverbs 10:18 (The fool utters slanders)

Proverbs 12:15 (The way of a fool is right in his own eyes)

Proverbs 13:19 (It is an abomination for them to depart from evil)

The Scorner:

Scorner – Extreme contempt; Disdain which springs from a persons opinion of meanness of an object and a consciousness or belief of his own superiority or worth. To deride, to make a mock of, to ridicule as contemptible.

Proverbs 9:8 (A scorner hates those that rebuke them)

Proverbs 13:1 (A scorner will not hear rebuke)

Proverbs 14:6 (A scorner will seek for but cannot find wisdom or knowledge)

Proverbs 15:12 (A scorner will not go to the wise for help)

The Wise:

Wise – Properly having knowledge. The power of judging and discerning correctly choosing laudable ends and the best means to accomplish them.

Proverbs 1:5 (The wise hears, listens, and attains to wise counsel)

Proverbs 8:33 ( The wise hears instruction)

Proverbs 9:9 (The wise loves them that rebuke him)

Proverbs 10:8 (The wise receives commandments)

Proverbs 10:14 (The wise lays up knowledge)

Proverbs 12:15 (The wise will hearken unto wise counsel)

Proverbs 13:1 (The wise heareth his father’s instruction)

Proverbs 13:20 (The wise chooses good companions)

Proverbs 14:16 (The wise feareth and departeth from evil)

Being simple is not always a bad thing if you are willing to learn. But when the simple refuse to

learn they will become fools. When a fool refuses to turn from being a fool then he will

eventually become a scorner.

What do we do with this character test?

If we are honest with ourselves we saw characteristics of the simple, fool, and scorner in

ourselves. If this is the case note what it says in Proverbs 1:22.

The solution is to do what it says in the following verses.

1)  Turn at God’s reproof (verse 23)

• We should turn from the character trait that we do not like.

2)  Quit refusing the voice of God to turn (verse 24)

3)  Agree with God (verse 25)

• Taking God’s hand would be a sign of being in agreement with him.

4)  Take his counsel (verse 25)

• God’s counsel is always correct.