Daily Word: Verbal Cripples

Proverbs 26:11 says: As a dog returns to his vomit, so does a dullard repeat his folly. (JPS) Remember that a "dullard" is a verbal cripple. The JPS Study Bible comments: "A deliberately disgusting characterization of the way some people repeat stupid behavior. Dogs for some reason often lick up their vomit, giving the impression that they like it." Admittedly, the picture is gross; however, the lesson to be learned is necessary. We must learn from our mistakes and not repeat them, i.e. do them again. The dullard will continue to make the same mistake time after time and be confused as to why bad things keep happening to him. The old saying has truth: "It is a sign of insanity to keep repeating the same action expecting a different result."

I have seen this occur frequently in personal relationships. A man or a woman will return to an abuser hoping for a different result. Sadly, the abuse continues because their has been no change of heart by the abuser. While people can change, they don't really change unless there is a transformation inwardly. It is not a matter of trying harder, it is matter of being different. The same can hold true in business relationships. If someone cheats you, and you continue to return to him, why should there be a different result? Proverbs is about wisdom. This is not some "pie in the sky" wisdom; it is about Godly principles that will instruct us how to be a success here, now, while we walk the earth. We need to be wise and learn from our mistakes and not repeat them.

Today, examine whether you learn from your mistakes or do you keep repeating them? The dullard keeps repeating the errors of the past without an understanding of what he is doing. He is the opposite of the wise. We are to be wise as our Father. We are to follow His principles for living. When we do, we are living wisdom.