A fool's anger is known at once, But a prudent man conceals dishonor.  Proverbs 12:16

Ours is a society driven by rights and by slights.  We are told that we have rights - and as a result of this education we demand them all the time.  One of the rights that evidently is near the top of the list is the right never to be offended.  That is why we have political correct language that is being ever more strictly enforced in our nation.  We cannot say things that will offend anyone else.  If the society determines that a certain word or phrase is no longer allowed - that word or phrase is banished from our circles.  If someone were so foolish as to speak that word of phrase - he too will be banished - even fired from his job.  If he is in the public eye - he will be summarily destroyed and cast upon the trash heap for the foreseeable future - possibly forever.  We are the nation with the greatest law protecting free speech (our first ammendment) but also the greatest number of unwritten laws that restrict our speech as well as punish any who dare step over the line. 

Our proverb today would help us greatly with our problems societally.  We are first warned that only a fool's anger is known at once.  The fool has no patience, therefore he is often disgusted and angry with others around him.  He takes up the slighest offence - whether overt or covert - and becomes vexed about it immediately.  The word for anger here is the Hebrew word "kaas" which means to be provoked to anger.  The problem is that this man is easily provoked - and lets his anger blow the moment that he is.  As we read here - his anger is know at once.  He is unable to control himself - and also unable to let things roll off his back like water off of a duck.  Every slight - every potential offence is taken to the deepest part of his being and fully embraced.  There is little wonder therefore that he has a tendency to lose it whenever this happens.  He is offended - angry - disgusted - and filled with rage toward whoever has knowingly or unknowingly slighted him. 

The prudent man is the one who conceals this anger and offence.  He is able to ignore the slights and snubs of life.  He is able to deal with the insults and general indignities of living in the fallen world.  Because he knows the world is fallen - he is aware that things like this are bound to happen.  Because he knows he too is fallen - he is aware of the need to be gracious and kind as he carries on life in this world.  He has learned to conceal dishonor.  The word for dishonor here parallels the Hebrew word for forgiveness.  He chooses to forgive and show mercy and grace rather than demand judgment and justice for every slight.  He has learned that the merciful are blessed, for they too receive mercy. 

Learning to be a prudent and wise man in this way will help you live much longer.  The word prudent here is the Hebrew word "arum" which has the idea of being sensible.  A sensible man knows that unless he wants his world to be in a continual state of stress, anger, rage, and bitter unforgiveness - he needs to let insults and vexation they can cause roll off of him.  By this he keeps his blood pressure down - and his friendships up.  If you are prone to become angry and blow off steam in almost every situation beware.  You are ruining your own life and living like a fool.  Be wise - be understanding - and be aware of the fallen world in which you live.  Show mercy and grace - for it will bring you joy even in the midst of a world filled with plenty of ways to become frustrated and angered.

The wise will inherit honor, But fools display dishonor. Proverbs 3:35

Proverbs is all about the difference between the wise man and the fool.  It is one of the major themes throughout this book.  Therefore it should not be too suprising to see at the close of chapter three that we have a comparison between the wise and the foolish.  The comparison that we see shown to us is what these two are receiving for their choices.  The wise man receives honor - while the fool gets dishonor.  What is most interesting though is how these two ends are described for us. 

The wise man is said to "inherit" honor.  The Hebrew word "nahal" which is used here means to take property as a permanent possession.  This was the word that was used to describe how Israel was to receive the promised land.  The whole idea of inheritance also brings into focus that there is going to have to be a death for us to receive what God gives us.  This points us to the sacrifices that were made when the Mosaic covenant was established.  There was no covenant without blood - and without death.  But for us the death is not ours - but the death of the sacrifice made on our behalf.  Throughout the Old Testament that was the death and sacrifice of the animals upon which they had laid their hands and confessed their sin.  But this was just a picture of what was to come.  It was a picture of Jesus Christ who would take sin upon Himself and pay the full price for it.  As a result, we would be able to inherit salvation - and honor from God.  Truly, as the passage says, the WISE will inherit this honor.  This reminds us that the ultimate wisdom from God, as stated in 1 Corinthians 1:21-24 is Jesus Christ as Him crucified.  "For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.  For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God."  The wise turn to Jesus - who is the wisdom of God unto us - as well as our righteousness and our redemption.

The fool though is said to "display" dishonor.  Here is a wonderful illustration of not just truth - but even of salvation and how we can know that we are saved.  The wise inherits honor, but the fool displays his dishonor.  Here we have a picture of the fool.  Since he has no wisdom by which he can be honored in God's sight - all he has left is to live out his days displaying the dishonorable way that he lives.  He shows forth what is in his heart - which is sin and dishonor.  He has no work of grace going on inside of him - which is part and parcel of why he lives the way that he does.  The lack of grace - the lack of salvation - the lack of wisdom - all will be disaplyed daily in a lifestyle that greives God.  Dishonor will be given to God in how he lives because he is lost.  So what we see throughout his life is not grace working to show honor - but foolishness and sin revealing dishonor. 

What do people see in us?  What are we revealing or displaying to the world around us.  If we were burnt in a fire - we would display the effects of the fire in our bodies for the rest of our lives.  If we worked out 3 hours a day - there would be a display in our muscles of the fact that we have done this.  What we see in the physical is also true in the spiritual realm as well. When we live by God's wisdom - or better said IF we live by God's wisdom - it WILL be seen in our lives.  We will display an honorable life.  If we are NOT displaying an honorable life, we should not lie and tell people we are living by His wisdom.  IF we are being a fool - and living by the principles of the world - we will display dishonor in our lifestyle.  If we are living in a way that dishonors the Lord - it is proof that we are living by foolish principles. 

There are many who ask the question, "How can I know that I am saved?" They may ask, "How can I know that I am doing God's will?"  They want some kind of definitive thing that they can do once and say they know that they are saved.  Yet God's Word tells us in a myriad of ways that the proof is in the lifestyle.  This does not mean that we are saved by works - because God's Word is clear that it is only by grace we are saved.  But . . . if there are no works - no change - no godliness - no living for God's glory and honor . . . we can honestly say that there is probably no salvation.  If there is a continued lifestyle that displays dishonor to God - and dishonor towards His Word - dishonor when it comes to a righteous life - then we can know that we are living as a fool - and honestly - we don't know God through the grace He has given us in Jesus Christ.