Proverbs 14:7 Commentary and Bible Study

The ability of discern what is of value in this world and to pursue it, and the ability to discern what is of no value and not to waste time with it, is of vital importance if life is not to be wasted. Furthermore, a wise man realises that men and women have their own character and act in accordance with their character, and it is foolish to proceed as if some great good can come out of one who has already shown he has a godless and unbelieving heart. Of course the gospel should be preached to all, and God changes even the most obdurate, but this change can come about only through the new birth, and the point here is that the old nature is not capable of producing something acceptable to God and profitable to men. Those who do not accept the Bible’s record that man is fallen cannot understand and remain hopeless optimists about man’s nature and what can come out of, in spite of the testimony of Christ that he ‘did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, and needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man’ (John 2:24-25). In their own limited sphere men may advance and make some progress, but what the proverb focuses on is that knowledge which is valued in the kingdom of heaven.The wise man is advised to go from their presence, which does not mean that he should seek to go out of the world – for duty and necessity do not allow this – but that he should not make them his close companions. He can work alongside those who do not know the Lord, but he need not go to the pub with them. If he does, he will find that ‘evil communications corrupt good manners’ (1 Corinthians 15:33). To remain with those who reject God is likely to erroneously give the impression that you have not yet discerned their foolishness, which may make them think that you approve of them and therefore that God also does. You are to go from them therefore for their sake as well as for your sake.