Searching for What Cannot Be Found

A scoffer seeks wisdom, and finds none,

But knowledge is easy to him who has understanding.

--Proverbs 14:6

Why is this proverb true?

How is it that a person could actually search for the very thing that God wishes for him to have, yet not find it?

Take a look at these proverbs about the scoffer:

"Proud," "Haughty," "Scoffer," are his names,

Who acts with insolent pride.

--Proverbs 21:24

"How long, O naive ones, will you love simplicity?

And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing,

And fools hate knowledge?

--Proverbs 1:22

He who corrects a scoffer gets dishonor for himself,

And he who reproves a wicked man gets insults for himself.

--Proverbs 9:7

Do not reprove a scoffer, lest he hate you,

Reprove a wise man, and he will love you.

--Proverbs 9:8

A wise son accepts his father's discipline,

But a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.

--Proverbs 13:1

A scoffer does not love one who reproves him,

He will not go to the wise.

--Proverbs 15:12

Do you see the character of the scoffer? 

Do you see his character flaws?

The scoffer is filled with pride. He is consumed with himself. He looks down on others. 

• His knowledge is superior or, at least, sufficient.
• His experience is superior, or, at least, sufficient.
• His ideas are superior, or, at least, sufficient. 

You cannot tell the scoffer anything; he needs no counsel, no advice. He does not listen to correction. He cannot be corrected. A term used in our day that may describe the scoffer is ‘narcissist.’

Go back and read the first chapter of the book of Proverbs. The purpose of the book is to impart wisdom. Yet, what is one of the keys to gaining wisdom?

Over and over and over, Solomon begs his son to listen! One who listens, truly listens, must exhibit humility. He must acknowledge that he is not sufficient within himself. He must be open to instruction, criticism, and correction.

The scoffer searches for wisdom but the very thing he needs stands in opposition to his character. He needs humility in order to listen but opposes it by his own pride.
Do you need proof?
Just read this to a scoffer.

Be wise.
Be humble.

Listen.

Mark Stinnett

March 29, 2026

Fat Soul

Even in our tolerant society, describing someone as fat is usually perceived in a negative sense. It is just not polite to refer to someone as ‘fat.’

However, in the Hebrew language of the Old Testament ’fat’ was sometimes used to communicate fullness or satisfaction or good health. That was Solomon’s meaning in a proverb contrasting laziness and diligence:

(Made with Hotpot AI Image Generator)

The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing,

But the soul of the diligent is made fat. 

--Proverbs 13:4

Humans understand cravings.

I once worked in an office setting in which a few of us would take our lunch together. We never watched the clock because one of my coworkers had an internal ‘lunch clock’ that went off at exactly 11:30 every day. He would pop up out of his chair, exit his office, stand in my doorway and “Ding, ding, ding!” an imaginary triangle. It was chow time.

We understand cravings. But what does the 'soul' crave?

A human being is made of body, soul and spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:23). Each aspect of the human being has its own cravings.

The 'body' craves food and drink, climate controlled environments, general comfort without pain, good health and a measure of strength, good looks, sexual satisfaction, rest, and maybe other things.

The 'spirit' consists of the intellect, emotion and the human will. There are cravings associated with each aspect of our spirit. The spirit craves knowledge and understanding, happiness and emotional stability, success and a sense of accomplishment, desires representing each of the three primary aspects of the spirit.

The human 'soul' is the ‘self.’ When God created mankind, He made man a “living soul.” The soul IS the person that you are. Your parents named your soul, not your body. When you refer to yourself you are referring to your soul. When someone calls your name, it is your soul being addressed. Your soul possesses your body and your spirit.

The soul is that aspect of your being that makes the ultimate choices in your life. Your body and spirit are influencers of the soul. Of course, the soul may allow the body to take charge; may allow the spirit to take charge. In general, these are poor choices because the body and spirit are generally interested only in satisfying the natural cravings they each perceive.

The proverb contrasts a soul lacking self-control with a disciplined soul. The soul desires something, presumably something good. Yet, lacking self-control, the lazy soul does not act. The ‘wanting’ is present, but the soul is weak and gives in to the influences of the body or the spirit.

However, the soul has the capacity to rule the body and refrain from giving in to its cravings. That is how a person curbs his appetite, engages in undesirable exercise, etc. The soul also has the capacity to quiet the cravings of the spirit. It is a matter of recognizing that which is of real importance and then accepting that as the greater value.

When the soul is diligent in pursuing things of real value, it engages self-control over the cravings of body and spirit. The result is a fat soul, that is, a soul that is satisfied or full, a soul fulfilling the more valuable choice. 

In the Proverbs the more valuable choices are wisdom, righteousness, justice, kindness, responsibility, etc. These are all characteristics of God. It sounds odd, but you should ‘fatten yourself’ on God’s character. 

Be wise.

Mark Stinnett

March 22, 2026

Deception: The Subtle Lie

It came as a cautionary warning and at the same time simple instruction. I had learned from my school friends that the aluminum foil on a gum wrapper could be separated from its wax paper backing and then pressed over a penny to make it look like a shiny dime.

I showed this neat trick to my mom and told her that a person could make a lot of money using the aluminum covered pennies as dimes. That's when mom's warning came, "You know, that is deceitful."

I was 11 years old and asked the meaning of this new vocabulary word.

Mom instructed, "It's a lie even though you didn't use words." She described the aluminum covered penny as a fake or counterfeit. (I knew those words.)

My disappointment was short-lived. After all, I realized that only a naïve person would be fooled. Fake, counterfeit, lie, deception; an unforgettable lesson.

People cleverly use a variety of words and phrases to mask the reality of their lie. At a very young age we all learned what it meant to tell a lie. We learned that lying is morally wrong and generally destructive. Nobody wants to be told a lie, and nobody wants to be labeled a liar. So, it is natural to try to mask a lie.

Many people think that 'white lies' are acceptable. Many people justify lying if it is for a good reason. It is not uncommon to hear people explain (rationalize) how their lie was not really a lie, it just wasn't the whole truth (deception).

Deceit might be the worst kind of lie because it is not as easy to evaluate as a 'boldfaced lie.' Deceit is most often subtle. As in my illustration above, deceit might not use words. Where words are used, cleverly crafted communication may obscure the full truth. Deceit often involves trickery. In whatever way it is described, however, deceit is always a lie.

Numerous passages in the Psalms and Proverbs describe a companion to deceit: destruction. Deceit is destructive because it violates trust. When trust is lost family relationships are broken, friendships are destroyed, work relationships are strained. Broken trust is difficult to repair.

It is no surprise, then, that Solomon issues a clear and strong warning:

Put away from you a deceitful mouth

And put devious speech far from you.

—Proverbs 4:24

Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil,

But counselors of peace have joy.

—Proverbs 12:20

Those who use deception in life carry a ‘toolbox’ full of techniques to shade the truth and manipulate the perceptions of people. Sadly, most deceivers have manipulated their perception of themselves: self-deception.

Whenever you are tempted to deceive someone, you should remember:

• God hates a lying tongue (Proverbs 6:17). It has no part in His kingdom.
• One of the most common strategies of the devil is deception. After all, he is the father of lies. (John 8:44) Do you really want to be like the devil?!

Be wise. No lies.

Mark Stinnett

February 8, 2026

Brother to Destruction

There are people who are busy. There are busybodies. And then there are people who work.

Work is good. Work is generally productive. Work is most often tiring.

Many people naturally equate ‘work’ with physical effort, maybe some grunting and huffing and puffing, and weary muscles at the end of the day. Of course, not all work wears a person out physically. Some work is mentally exhausting. ‘Work’ is a broad term that describes human effort to accomplish things. Sometimes, our ‘play’ involves work.

We all have our opinions about ‘my’ work, ‘their’ work, and all the things that people call work that aren’t work at all. Set your opinions aside for a moment and listen to Solomon. He wrote something quite practical.

He also who is slack in his work

Is brother to him who destroys.

—Proverbs 18:9

I think the proverb speaks for itself, but if not, re-read the proverb and then pause...think of the results.

• What is the result of the one who is slack in his work?
• What is the result of the one who destroys?

Solomon presents us with a fact about work. He approaches the fact from a negative standpoint but makes no judgment, offers no admonition, and gives no advice. He just leaves it out there for you and me to consider.

I suppose someone might want to contest Solomon’s conclusion. Someone else might want to issue a personal declaration justifying their work or lack of it. Surely someone will quip in agreement, “Well, isn't that the truth!”

Solomon doesn’t target anyone in particular. Again, he just leaves this truth out there for us to consider.

I immediately thought about a few lingering projects at my house. I pictured the ‘unfinished’ work and then recognized that while it is unfinished, it looks similar to destruction. I can rationalize that it is a ‘work in progress.’ But to be honest, I’ve been ‘slack in my work’ on those projects.

Now I have a choice.

As with other proverbs, do you see how this proverb works?

Solomon did not tell his reader what to do. He simply helps his reader face a truth in life. For this proverb, it doesn’t matter if you are a Christian or a criminal. You must decide what you will do with the truth presented.

It is the kind of proverb that motivates me to do better. And it also reminds me of some other teachings about work in the Bible. Consider…

If anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either. 

(The full passage in 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 is quite interesting.)

Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you, so that you will behave properly toward outsiders and not be in any need. 

--1 Thessalonians 4:11-12

He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with the one who has need.

--Ephesians 4:28

God expects His people to work so that they are not a burden on others but rather, so they can help others. So, don’t be a slacker. Be wise.

Mark Stinnett

January 18, 2026

Listen, Watch, Walk

Parents make sacrifices for their children. They want to make sure their children have a good life. Of course, parents have different ideas about what makes life good. Ideas range from wealth to a good career to ownership of property; or perhaps, a loving family, good health, comfortable living, a good education, good standing in the community, and so on.

For wise Solomon, the best thing he could give his son was wisdom. And while much of the wisdom of Solomon came from careful observation of life, his God-given gift of wisdom transcended the wisdom of the world. He saw the value of honoring and revering God, living a life of righteousness, and being devoted to integrity and equity toward his fellow man. These were among the things he had in mind when he pleaded:

My son, give attention to my words;

Incline your ear to my sayings.

Do not let them depart from your sight’

Keep them in the midst of your heart.

For they are life to those who find them

And health to all their body.

—Proverbs 4:20-22

Solomon recognized that wisdom guided the human spirit and provided health to the human body. Someone recently commented to me that even an unbeliever would live a better life by following the wisdom of Solomon.

If only written, you can still sense the stress in Solomon’s voice as he urged his son to listen. Continuing in verse 23:

Watch over your heart with all diligence….

The heart refers to the human spirit where the human will, emotion, and intellect reside. Solomon knew that the spirit can be deceived and can itself affect the perceptions and decisions of the soul. So, the soul must take responsibility and guard the heart (spirit). This is primarily about watching what influences come into the heart and mind. In the verse that follows, Solomon urges care regarding what comes out of the heart:

Put away from you a deceitful mouth

And put devious speech far from you. (24)

How is all this accomplished?

The answer is found in the final three verses:

Let your eyes look directly ahead

And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you. (25)

First, your soul makes a resolute decision. The direction of one’s gaze is to be trained toward God, fixed (set) on His written revelation, Scripture.

Watch the path of your feet

And all your ways will be established. (26)

Once your soul is locked in on God and His word, look at your feet, that is, examine yourself, to ensure that you are walking according to God’s way.

Do not turn to the right nor to the left;

Turn your foot from evil. (27)

Verse 26 is the positive instruction that is to be followed while verse 27 is more defensive. It is instruction in what is to be avoided.

This is wisdom from above. Trust it and it will make your life on earth good. It will also help to prepare you for life to come. 

So, be wise.

Mark Stinnett

January 4, 2026

When You Follow God's Instruction

Occasionally you read a verse or passage in the Bible and it sounds as if it was written specifically for our time. Such is the case with Proverbs 28:4.

Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,

But those who keep the law strive with them.

We live in a day in which many praise the wicked!

In striking contrast, those who follow God’s instruction “strive with them.”

It is worth noting that this is an observation, not a command. In other words, Solomon is not telling his readers to start a fight with those who do not follow God’s instruction. Rather, it is a natural outcome that those who follow God’s instruction will strive with those who do not.

The young Jewish men Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego provide an excellent example. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had taken them to Babylon to serve in his court. After erecting a large statue in honor of himself, the king ordered everyone present (all the nobles and other ranking individuals) to bow to the statue when music was played. The three Jewish men were present but did not bow. The king gave them a second chance but they told the king that there was no need because they would not bow.

These three young men were devoted to God. They kept the Law of Moses which forbade them bow to anyone or anything other than God. They did not intend to be disrespectful, yet they were striving with the pagan king because they kept God's instruction. That was simply the nature of their obedience.

There are times when a follower of God intentionally strives with someone who has sinned, such as, a brother in Christ. Even then, Jesus taught that the objective is to restore the brother. So, the one doing wrong is to be approached with gentleness and in a spirit of love. (See Matthew 18:15-17.)

Solomon provided rich wisdom concerning our interaction with fools:

Do not answer a fool according to his folly 

   or you will be like him.

Answer a fool as his folly deserves, 

   that he not be wise in his own eyes. 

--Proverbs 26:4 & 5

The simple point is that a follower of God must be wise in his interaction with those who do not follow. There is a time to speak up and there is a time to remain silent. Wisdom dictates the response.

Ultimately, however, as a follower of God, whether you speak up or remain silent, you will at some time find yourself striving with those who do not follow God’s instruction. Again, that is simply how life works.

Beyond the simple observation of Solomon, this proverb (28:4)may also be taken as a mild warning. After all, people tend to desire to fit in. So, when you do not fit in because you live by God’s instruction, you will undoubtedly appear to be out of synch with society. That may not seem threatening when it is read as words on paper. However, the experience of being on the outside among coworkers, your friend group, family, or society in general adds considerable pressure in one’s life. Jesus noted that some believers fall away “when affliction or persecution arises because of the word.” If we are serious about following God’s instruction, we must prepare our minds..

Finally, Paul reminded us, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.” (Romans 12:18) Even so, you must be mindful that by following God’s instruction you will naturally strive with those who do not. For that reason, make it your soul’s decision to remain faithful to God’s instruction at all costs. Your allegiance to Jesus must not be compromised.

Mark Stinnett

December 28, 2025

More than Sacrifice

From Proverbs 21:3...

To do righteousness and justice

Is desired by the Lord more than sacrifice.

In the Old Testament, righteousness and justice are often parallel, even synonymous. However, when paired together it suggests a distinction. Often, righteousness is explained as ‘doing what is right.’ Justice is explained as ‘fairness.’ Those are meaningful, but there is more. Consider the words of the prophet…

He has told you, O man, what is good

And what does the Lord require of you

But to do justice, to love kindness,

And to walk humbly with your God? 

--Micah 6:8

In the leading Proverb and in this verse, the focus is on doing justice. ‘Doing justice’ involves people. The way you treat people is the focus.

Did you notice righteousness in Micah 6:8? 

It’s there, just look, and ponder.

Micah’s question was presented to Israel by Moses many years earlier:

Now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require from you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the Lord’s commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today for your good? 

--Deuteronomy 10:12-13

The words righteousness and justice do not appear, but the concepts are there.

Righteousness is about doing what is right, first in one’s relationship with God. That means that a person does what God expects. We are to fear God, that is, honor Him, revere Him, and stand in awe of Him. We are to obey God by listening to His revealed word and putting it into action in our lives. To do God’s will also means that we treat people properly, that is, according to God’s way. Think: The Second Great Command. Think: The Golden Rule.

Justice more specifically emphasizes our responsibility toward others. We must interact with people with fairness and equity.

Now, what about the sacrifices in today’s proverb?

Two specific sacrifices are noteworthy. First, consider the sin offering in the Law of Moses. It was an animal sacrifice that was offered as an appeal to God for forgiveness for a sin a person had committed.

Re-read the proverb. God desires righteousness and justice more than a sin offering (sacrifice). Can you see why?

If you were to live a life of righteousness and justice, you would honor God and treat your fellow man as God desires. So there would be no need for a sin offering! God would rather that you live a life free of sin, a life of righteousness and justice, than committing sin and needing to beg God’s forgiveness.

Another animal sacrifice was the peace offering, a sacrifice offered to show gratitude to God. It is naturally considered worship. Looking back to the proverb...God desires righteousness and justice more. That is not to say that He is not interested in our worship. Rather, Jesus said it well to the Pharisees:

You tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others.

--Matthew 23:23

James wrote that pure religion is to take care of orphans and widows and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (James 1:27) Go back and read that verse in its entirety. You’ll see it—righteousness and justice, more desired by God than sacrifice. 

God isn't trying to make us religious. He is trying to make us to be like Him.

Let’s give God ALL that He desires of us.


Mark Stinnett

December 21, 2025

Pondering the Proverbs

The Psalmist wrote of the blissful man whose:

Delight is in the law of the Lord,

And in His law he meditates day and night. (Psalm 1:2)

Some folks associate meditation with the practices of eastern pagan religions. In reality, meditation is nothing more than focusing one’s thoughts on something to gain a better or deeper understanding. It is good to pause in our Bible reading to focus and think about what we have read. I find it productive to ask myself questions about the things I’ve read.

If you have caught up on reading the Book of Proverbs (see last week’s blog), then you may remember the following from chapter 1:

Wisdom shouts in the street,

She lifts her voice in the square. (1:20)

Wisdom is personified as a woman. Why is she shouting? What would that look like if it were taken literally, that is, if a woman actually stood in the streets shouting? (Focus and think.)

In verse 22 Wisdom calls out:

How long, O naïve ones, will you love being simple-minded

And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing

And fools hate knowledge?

What is the relationship between:

• The naïve and simplicity?
• The scoffer and scoffing?
• The fool and knowledge?

What is the difference between the three individuals: the naïve, the scoffer, and the fool? (Ponder.)

The naïve ‘loves,’ the scoffer ‘delights,’ and the fool ‘hates.’ What is the significance of these action words? (Meditate.)

When we pause and ask ourselves questions about the things written, we tend to look more intently at the text. We envision the scene and all the moving parts. It may help us to see connections not seen before, grasp a deeper meaning, remember things more easily, or remember longer.

Simple observation is a part of meditation. What do you remember about Proverbs 2? 

For me it is the ‘path’ chapter. The word path, or a synonym (way, course, or track), appears twelve times. Why is there such repetition? Is there an overarching message or emphasis? If so, what is that message?

Sometimes the text seems to jump off the page with a pattern of thought. It may be a mere poetic device or it may suggest a deeper meaning. Either way, it makes the reader stop and look...and ponder.

Sometimes the text seems to jump off the page because the text does not meet the reader’s expectation. For example, Solomon addressed “my son” numerous times in the first seven chapters, but in 4:1 and 5:7 he addressed, “my sons,” plural. Why? Is there significance? (Think.)

Some questions may be easily answered in the surrounding text. Others may be answered when considering the book as a whole and its repetitive themes. Some questions may go unanswered. Even then, our minds are sharper as we continue to read further in the book, as we re-read, and as we explore other sections of scripture.

Pondering the proverbs is not a science, but rather a simple means of delving more deeply into God’s word. What will you see today!?

Mark Stinnett

December 14, 2025

The Proverbs Challenge

(NOTE: "The Proverbs Challenge" was originally intended to begin on Monday, December 1st. However, due to inclement weather we did not meet and the bulletin article issuing this challenge was not published and distributed. So, the challenge was adapted slightly to begin on December 7th. Anyone wishing to participate in "The Proverbs Challenge" may simply begin on the day they read this blog. Previous chapters may be read as desired to complete the entire book by the end of the month.)

A few years ago I issued to our congregation ‘The Proverbs Challenge.’ I would like to do so once again and will explain in this article.

Even a casual reading of scripture tells us that there are different kinds of writings in the Bible. There are poetic sections and narrative sections. The poetry of Psalms is different than the Proverbs and the prophets. Likewise, the narrative of Genesis or Joshua is different than the gospel narratives. Because of the different kinds of writings in Scripture, we read and process them differently.

Today I wish to challenge you to read the book of Proverbs in December.

The Challenge
Read the entire book of Proverbs over the next month as follows. Each day read the chapter in Proverbs that corresponds to the day of the month. (Since we missed last Sunday due to weather, you may begin in chapter 7 today. Of course, you can read the first six chapters to catch up if you wish.) Tomorrow, Monday the 8th, read chapter 8. On Tuesday the 9th, read chapter 9. You’ll finish Proverbs on New Year’s Eve.

Why Proverbs?

• Proverbs is easy to read and generally easy to understand.
• You will recognize wisdom you already know, and some that you don’t.
• Proverbs is about life in the present. So, it is practical.
• Proverbs presents the ideal when wisdom is applied to life.
• The wisdom of Proverbs is timeless and applicable to young and old.
• It’s not about reading the Bible for the sake of reading. It is about gaining wisdom without having to go learn from the ‘school of hard knocks.’

Things to Know about the Book of Proverbs

Proverbs is primarily a writing from a father to his son. The father pleads with his son to listen to wisdom and follow the instruction of his father and mother. In doing so he is assured a good life.

The first nine chapters in Proverbs have an overall theme. They flow together with connected thoughts. Then, in chapter ten, the writing changes with “The proverbs of Solomon,” the more familiar portion of the book comprised of individual sayings of only one or two verses in length.

While individual proverbs seem to stand alone, recurring themes appear throughout the book, such as: poverty, foolishness, righteousness, honesty, wealth, wisdom, laziness, generosity, good/bad speech, etc.

It is common for the second line of a proverb to extend or emphasize the thought in the first line. For example:

The generous man will be prosperous, and

He who waters will himself be watered. (11:25)

Often, a strong contrast is used in the second line. For example:

The merciful man does himself good,

But the cruel man does himself harm. (11:17)

Truth is sometimes taught by strong language or a stark illustration:

Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,

So is the lazy one to those who send him. (10:26)

As you read The Proverbs enjoy the memorable ways that truth is presented. Then each day, pick out one verse or thought to remember and ponder throughout the day. I plan to draw from the Proverbs in some of my future articles and would be happy to hear from you about your ponderings.

Mark Stinnett

December 7, 2025

Outsmarting God

Kareem, a foreign student in a doctoral program, was my teacher in an advanced college math class. He and I occasionally spoke before class. Topics included mathematics, his home country, religion, God, and the Bible. Upon arriving early to class one day, Kareem casually approached my desk and said with a grin, “You know, I can prove that God does not exist.”

I quickly responded, “And I would expect that you can also prove that God DOES exist.”

His eyes lit up and he fired back, “So what does that tell you about God!?”

“He is not subject to human proof,” I said (glad not to have embarrassed myself).

Kareem seemed quite satisfied with the whole exchange knowing that his ‘proof’ was simply based on human logic. It was his purpose was to show the absurdity of using math and human logic to attempt to prove or disprove God. Yet, that has not stopped many from deceiving the naïve and unsuspecting.

Recall Satan’s attempt to deceive Jesus with the first temptation:

If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.

—Matthew 4:3

Who said that turning stones into bread proved one to be the Son of God? Satan made a logical connection where none existed. Deceiver.

Recall how some Jews plotted against Jesus. They asked whether it was lawful to pay taxes to Caesar. If Jesus answered, “Yes,” then he would be siding with the Roman government and turn the people against him. Yet, to answer, “No,” would be to position himself against Rome. Testers.

A modern-day writer posed a series of difficult-to-answer questions about a controversial issue. His questions were meant to tear down teachings from the past and usher in greater enlightenment. Though the questions might have been challenging, they did not change the simple text of Scripture. Questioner.

A popular writer posed the question, “What if Mary was not a virgin.” He went on to talk about translation issues in Old Testament prophecy and whether the prophecy really meant that the Messiah would be born of a virgin. Matthew plainly indicated that the virgin birth fulfilled that prophecy. Yet the writer wondered with doubt whether the Jews expected a virgin birth and how that might affect the way people look at Scripture. Doubter.

The deceiver, tester, questioner, and doubter all have one thing in common: They are scoffers who have little regard for God’s word. Through their wordcraft they create clouds of doubt where none exist.

Through human reasoning some think they have out-witted God to create ‘gray areas’ in His word that do not exist. They have confused clear teachings regarding sin and righteousness in order to justify their ideas. Do not be fooled! Just because a person can ask tough questions, create doubt, rationalize, and/or make straightforward teachings fuzzy does not make that individual a good teacher. He spreads seeds of doubt so that people question God’s word and God Himself. He does not love the truth but only himself.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and

   do not lean on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge Him, 

   and He will make your paths straight.

Do not be wise in your own eyes;

Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.

—Proverbs 3:5-7

Mark Stinnett

July 20, 2025

Validating Scripture

Several years ago I sat in a Bible class on the book of Proverbs and then later a class on the book of Ecclesiastes. Both are categorized as books of wisdom. As much as I loved these writings, I was sorely disappointed with the presentation of each teacher.

I did not object to the stories the teachers told that related to the text. Many were great illustrations. However, the stories were not given as illustrations of the truths found in scripture, they were offered to validate what was written.

Think for a moment…

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness.

—2 Timothy 3:16 (NASB)

But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, 21for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

—2 Peter 1:20-21 (NASB)

We accept that the Bible is the inspired word of God. That means that ultimately, even though written by the hand of men, using the style, language and vocabulary of men, the Bible was authored by God through the Holy Spirit.

We may have questions about the inspiration of the Bible, yet we do not wonder if it is God’s word. For that reason we must adopt and maintain an attitude of reverence toward the word of God. We really should imagine in our minds that God is speaking to us through the many writers of scripture.

Now, back to the classes on Proverbs and Ecclesiastes…
The personal stories were offered to validate the things written in scripture. Does that seem backwards to you? It is one thing to use an illustration to clarify a difficult proverb. It is quite another thing to evaluate the truth of the proverb on the basis of one’s life experience.

God did not speak to mankind and then ask, "What do you think about that; do you think it's true?" We must not take the word of God and then compare it our own understanding of the sum total of human experience and knowledge. Remember…

In the beginning...God.

God is the starting point of man’s existence. He is the backdrop against which we must discover ourselves and find meaning. His word is the standard by which we evaluate our lives.

Applied to the wisdom of the Proverbs, we must accept the truth of God’s word and then evaluate our own life experiences. It is the truth of God’s word that validates my life, not the other way around. If my personal experiences are necessary to validate God’s word, then ‘I’ have become the standard by which truth is known and understood. We should use human experiences only to illustrate and perhaps to help explain the existing truth of God’s word.

Do not be wise in your own eyes;

Fear the Lord and turn from evil.

—Proverbs 3:7 (NASB)

We need to be a people who listen to God’s word. We need to accept it at face value. We need to adjust our lives to conform to God’s word, not make it conform to our lives.

Mark Stinnett

July 13, 2025

Wise Eyes

Two young boys, brothers, walked up to the banks of a river while on a camping trip. Surveying the wide river they both imagined themselves playing in the water. Just as the younger brother kicked off his shoes and started for the water, the older warned, “You’d better not go in; remember what dad said.”

Hesitating, the younger brother replied: “It looks pretty good to me. I don’t see a problem.”

With another reminder from the older brother, they stopped and spent their time skipping rocks on the water.

What stopped them from going in?

They were the ones at the river. They had firsthand knowledge. They could see no dangers. Yet, they hesitated. They stopped. They listened to the voice of their father echoing in their ears.

We are often like the young boys. We might approach life like a wide inviting river. We want to kick off our shoes and wade in without a care in the world. Our eyes are open. We see no dangers.

We stand at the side of life's river. We can see that everything is safe. But our heavenly Father has warned us.

The boys could not see the dangers their father knew to exist. The same is true of us. We often cannot see the dangers that our heavenly Father knows to exist.

Fear stopped the boys, fear of their father. There was an element of scared fear, but they were not simply afraid. They knew their father and held him in high esteem. There was trust and respect and an understanding of potential consequences for disobedience. Fear. Respect. Honor.

Reverence and awe are not merely worship words. They are descriptive of our view of God every day and in all circumstances. Reverence and awe for God and His word will direct our feet to safety and steer us away from evil.

Do not be wise in your own eyes;

Fear the LORD and turn away from evil.

--Proverbs 3:7

Do you have wise eyes?

Mark Stinnett

February 23, 2025

Discipline with Integrity

I don’t know how well it will work, but I know that it’s right. (I am thinking about discipline as it applies to children in the home.)

My leading statement might not instill great confidence. However, there is a reason for making the statement: Kids make choices. By that, I mean that even perfect parenting will yield varied results. You might remember what God said to one of his prophets: “You shall speak all these words to them, but they will not listen to you; and you shall call to them, but they will not answer you.” (Jeremiah 7:27) Like the people of God at the time of Jeremiah, children do not always listen, even when parents do everything right. Like all humans, children make choices and their independence grows with age.

Parenting is not hopeless, however. There are principles of discipline that should be followed. But first, what is discipline? 

In the Bible, discipline starts with simple instruction. It also includes training by modeling and by hands-on attempts by the child. Discipline also includes verbal correction, rebuke and physical consequences that may range from removing privileges, applying unwanted circumstances, and yes, even spanking. So, discipline is a very broad category.

There are a few principles that apply to all types of discipline in all kinds of circumstances:

• Make no idle threats. Never threaten a consequence that you cannot carry out or that you know you will not carry out. When you lie to your children about discipline, your children will also learn to lie.
• If you agree to something, do it. If you do not keep your word, children learn that it is ok to say things and not really mean what they say. That is simply a lengthy way of describing a lie. Children see through lies.
• If it is morally right in the Bible, then it should be right in your home. Model what is right and demand it in your children.
• If it is morally wrong in the Bible, then it should be wrong in your home. Among other things, the Bible teaches that children are expected to honor and obey their parents, and tell the truth. Parents who do not discipline a child for lying, disobedience and/or dishonor have placed themselves above God. Children will see that their parents do not regard God’s word highly.

The way parents discipline their children will reflect their view of God and His word.

Discipline has two primary goals:

• First, discipline is the means by which a parent keeps a child on the path of righteousness. Much can be learned from the book of Proverbs where discipline is a prominent theme. Ultimately, righteousness leads the child to the cross of Christ where he/she is then encouraged to follow Jesus.
• Second, discipline in the home trains a child to be self-disciplined. A child who has learned self-discipline is far more likely to be happy, creative, successful, and well-adjusted as an adult. A complete lack of discipline promotes instinctive behavior like that found in wild animals.

People differ in their viewpoint of child discipline and how it is to be applied. However, Integrity in discipline is about following God’s instruction in spite of everyone else’s opinions.

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, 

but he who hates correction is stupid.

—Proverbs 12:1 (NIV)

Mark Stinnett

January 19, 2025

Channels of Water

“God is in control.”

Those words can become cliché. It is not that any Christian would disagree. We accept this truth, but we have heard it over and over and over so that it can become unimpressive.

Solomon had a way of exposing this same truth, yet in a way that captivates the mind.

The king's heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD;

He turns it wherever He wishes.

--Proverbs 21:1

Kings of the Earth:
Kings are powerful. In fact, the king has his way. He controls the army of his land. He decides to build or not build, to go to war or not go to war, to make an alliance or not. The people of the land depend on the king for security and protection; for the ability to conduct business, grow crops, keep livestock, and make a living; for laws that benefit the people and the land, and the just enforcement of those laws. The king has the power and authority to grant life or take life. At the his word or the motion of his hand, the king's will is done.

Solomon wrote the book of Ecclesiastes as the result of his search for meaning (though limiting his search to the physical universe). He spoke of his search, and in doing so revealed the extent of the power and authority of a king.

All that my eyes desired I did not refuse them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure….

—Ecclesiastes 2:10

Though prideful, King Nebuchadnezzar of ancient Babylon possessed power and glory and majesty. He was indeed sovereign. (Daniel 4:30-31)

That is what it means to be a king of the earth!

Father God:
It is not mother nature but Father God who directs the streams of water on the earth. It is by His thought and by His authority and by His power that their course is set. With ease the Creator conducts the course of rivers and streams by His hand.

How great is our God who directs the channels of water on the earth!

God is in Control:
The One who directs the channels of water also turns the hearts of kings. It is not that kings are unable to choose, but God can overrule their decisions in order to accomplish His divine will. He can direct their hearts and influence their thoughts…and he does.

This is not a description of destiny or divine puppetry. Rather, God is in control.

• God discerns.
• God decides.
• God influences.
• God turns hearts.
• God carries out His divine will.

Politics, economics, social issues, conflict and war; these are all the affairs of men: God is in control.

The twinkling of the stars, the fury of the sun, the elliptical path of the earth, the orbit of the moon; the paths of channels of water, the presence of the mountains and caverns and shorelines; the breath of life: God is in control.

To the one who believes, this is rest.
To the one who scoffs, he will one day shudder.
To the one who comprehends…he cannot help but stand in awe!

Mark Stinnett

July 9, 2023

The Spirit Shop

The debates over drinking have lasted for decades, perhaps centuries. Questions have been asked and answered, though the answers have been inconsistent. Through it all the abuse of intoxicating drinks remains.

Wine and strong drink have been around at least since the time of Noah (after the flood). See Genesis 9:20-21 for the first biblical reference to wine, strong drink and a vineyard.

It is clear from scripture that drunkenness is a moral issue. Drunkenness is sin. Many people justify drinking by simply asserting that the Bible does not condemn drinking, only drunkenness. Even so, let’s step back from all the ‘nit-picking’ arguments and take a look at something God revealed.

Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler,
And whoever is intoxicated by it is not wise. 

 —Proverbs 20:1

Wine and strong drink are personified. We understand this kind of figure of speech. However, we must not overlook the reality presented by this poetic picture: Wine and strong drink have an effect on the personality of the one drinking.

Intoxicating drink changes a person. We could talk about physiological changes. However, the changes are not purely physical. If the effects were, for example, a weakened body, or baldness, or decaying teeth, then we could reason that the effect was purely physical.

However, intoxicating drink changes one’s personality, disposition, and the ability to think. A person becomes a mocker and a brawler (fighter). Once the intoxicating drink gets into the blood stream, the change is beyond a person's control. Mints might mask one’s breath, but they won't magically remove the alcohol from one's body. (Hollywood often presents a false view of recovery from drunkenness.)

There are changes that occur as intoxicating drink affect the mind and emotions of a person. In Scripture the spirit of man is intimately connected to the human intellect, emotion and the human will. Physically, the human brain is the point of connection to the human spirit. From the body to the brain to the human spirit, intoxicating drink changes a person without asking permission.

In simple terms, intoxicating drink causes a person to temporarily lose control of his/her thinking, emotions and will.

Drink deeply from the words of the Apostle Paul:

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit.

--Ephesians 5:18

Do you see the contrast?

Being filled with the Spirit of God stands in stark contrast to drunkenness, that is, being filled with intoxicating drink.

The Bible teaches that the Spirit of God dwells within each Christian to enable and assist. The Spirit of God cannot enable you in your pursuit of godliness, cannot assist you to do God's will, cannot bring comfort into your life when He is forced out of your being by intoxicating drink.

Drinking wine and intoxicating drinks is no laughing matter. Nor is it merely a moral issue, as if a mere religious rule. Your spiritual well-being is at stake.

Will you choose to be filled with the Spirit of God or the spirits of mockery and brawling from the local ‘spirit shop’?


Mark Stinnett

April 2, 2023

Correct Me, If I’m Wrong

"Correct me, if I'm wrong," he said.

I'm not always sure if a person is sincere when I hear such a comment. After all, I have attempted to correct someone after hearing such a statement, but it did not turn out as I expected.

Here’s wisdom that applies:

Do not reprove a scoffer, lest he hate you,

Reprove a wise man, and he will love you.

--Proverbs 9:8

Have you ever felt that you needed to correct someone, but you were afraid of how they might react? That’s not uncommon. Many folks are non-confrontational, and with good reason. Relationships have become strained or broken when trying to correct another.

No one wants to face the scoffer when he is corrected. It might result in…

• Anger over being corrected.
• Denial of a problem and complete refusal of correction;
• Accusations cast toward the one correcting;
• Colorful speech in response;
• A dismissive attitude toward the one offering correction;
• Excuses to explain (i.e. justify) the behavior.

Because of the potential reaction of the scoffer, many folks prefer not to engage in the correction of anyone, even a wise man.

Yet, what is the outcome when there is no correction? If a person has done wrong but is not corrected, then there are two lies being told:

• The one who is in the wrong, but refuses correction, behaves as if everything is fine when it is not.
• The one who refrains from correcting another has hidden the truth out of fear.

Both lies avoid reality.

Solomon gives us insight into the possible outcome of correcting another person. However, we should not assume one thing or another. A gentle revelation of the truth with wise words may reveal a scoffer or a wise man. Either way, you have done right by not hiding the truth.

If you have revealed a scoffer, follow Solomon's advice and avoid correcting him/her in the future. Also remember, even wise men may not enjoy being corrected at first. It might take some time for the wise man to come around. So, don’t be too quick to judge.

Here are a couple of verses of Scripture that may help to encourage correction:

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

—2 Timothy 3:16-17

My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

—James 5:19-20

Always approach correction with the right attitude. Correction is not for gloating, setting the record straight or standing in judgment. Correction is for the benefit of another’s soul.

Also, when you are on the receiving end, i.e. the one being corrected, stop talking and listen. It might be that you ARE wrong. It might be that you NEED correction...for the good of your soul.

Be humble.

Be courageous.

Be wise.

Mark Stinnett

October 23, 2022

I Once Stepped on a Teacher

Have you ever stepped on a teacher?

I’ll admit, that is one of the strangest questions I’ve ever asked. I don’t know what kind of image that question brings to your mind, so let me clarify.

I am not thinking about stepping on your teacher’s shoes. Rather, have you ever stepped on an ant?

Again, a strange question, but it was Solomon who gave me the idea:

Go to the ant, O sluggard,

Observe her ways and be wise.

—Proverbs 6:6

In this simple proverb Solomon told the lazy person to observe the ways of the ant and find wisdom.

Some of Solomon’s wisdom came from pure observation.

   He stopped long enough;

      He waited long enough;

         He watched long enough;

            And he learned something.

Solomon learned many practical life lessons by observing nature around him. He even learned from the lowly ant.

Now, let’s not misunderstand. Solomon was not a pantheist, a person who believes that God is in nature and all nature IS God. Rather, we know that God is our Creator. When He created the universe, He set principles in place; we call them the laws of nature. We are able to observe patterns in nature because God set things in motion according to specific, observable patterns.

By observing the laws of nature and the patterns in nature, we can learn practical lessons.

Now, back to the ants. You can read Solomon’s observation, that is, what he learned by taking the time to watch and observe the ants. It is true and does not need your validation. Yet, I wonder if it would be worthwhile to also take the time to watch and observe the ants.

Plants and animals are used in many biblical illustrations. We can learn things by observing nature around us. Yet, there is one teaching that stands out in my mind. It is found in a familiar statement that Jesus made:

Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?

—Matthew 6:26

Jesus didn’t say, “I looked at that birds and noticed this….” He said to us, “Look.” I think He actually wanted us to get up and go outside and look at the birds. It is not that bird-watching makes you righteous. And yet, He did say, “Look….”

Perhaps the simple exercise of looking would teach us more than imagining or remembering.

Now, no one should think that God’s revealed word, the Bible, can be replaced by observing nature. Yet, it would appear that even God recognized that a lazy person could learn something from a lowly ant; that we all could learn something from birds.

Perhaps we should get out more.
Perhaps we should...

   stop more, 

      observe more, 

         ponder more.

Perhaps we would grow in wisdom.

I am certain that we would stand in awe of our Creator!


Mark Stinnett

April 17, 2022

Who Understands?

Listen to Solomon’s proverb:

Evil men do not understand justice,

But those who seek the LORD understand all things.

--Proverbs 28:5 (NASB95)

Do you think that there might be some evil people who understand something about justice? Maybe Solomon meant that they just didn’t apply justice properly.

And, seriously, do you think that those who seek the Lord truly understand all things??? After all, I once knew a guy who….

The Proverbs were not written for the purpose of our evaluation. They were not written for us to judge whether we think they hold true or not.

• Evaluate bumper stickers.
• Evaluate sayings on posters.
• Evaluate clever maxims on wall hangings.
• Evaluate the wise and witty sayings (memes) posted by all your friends on social media.
• Evaluate emotional verses of poetry set to music with stunning background photographs.

However, when it comes to The Proverbs, don’t spend your time thinking and wondering whether or not it is true. Don’t spend your time trying to come up with examples of exceptions. Even if you can come up with a true exception, it changes nothing.

Assume that you have found an exception. Is that how you want to live your life? Do you want to depend on the exceptional cases, or would it be wiser to listen to wisdom as it is presented?

Judge the value of human sayings but not The Proverbs in the Bible. Rather...

• Learn The Proverbs.
• Spend time in The Proverbs.
• Absorb The Proverbs.
• Live The Proverbs.

Then, you will surely live an exceptional life.

Sometimes you just need to give it a little time to soak in.

Evil men do not understand justice,

But those who seek the LORD understand all things.

Accept the Lord’s wisdom!

Mark Stinnett

June 20, 2021