“It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling.” Proverbs 20:3
Can being “aloof” to the latest controversy actually be a good thing? Many consider the word “aloof” to have negative connotations, but its actual meaning, used in this passage is, “conspicuously uninvolved and uninterested, typically through distaste.”A man of “honor,” then is one who keeps himself conspicuously uninvolved and uninterested in the daily “strife,” which means “angry or bitter disagreement and arguing over a fundamental issue.” He finds this “quarreling” (also translated “meddling”) to be distasteful.
The “fool” however, runs to quarreling and strife. The word “fool” means, “self-willed person.” Isn’t that interesting? The person who the Bible calls a fool is the one who says, “Nobody can tell me what to do… I make my own decisions.”The “fool” finds pleasure in quarreling and strife, while the “foolish” seem to fall into strife without understanding why or how he continues to get into these quarrels.
Here is the take-away- Do not let a fool shame you into needlessly and senselessly engaging in arguing, strife, conflict and quarreling. Instead, be noticeably uninterested and uninvolved in strife… even if the fool labels you ignorant of aloof.
The Honor is yours.
The Scripture Feed 