Mild Contempt

Mild Contempt

Contempt and scorn are quite common sins. People look down on someone who (for example) is poorly dressed or who is less intelligent.

However, there is also a mild contempt. “If a man would give for love all the wealth of his house, it would be utterly despised.” Song of Sol. 8:7. “Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill? . . . in whose eyes a vile [ungodly] person is despised, but he honors those who fear the Lord . . . .” Ps. 15:1, 4.

Sin makes people stupid and back to front so that they despise a God-fearing man because he is undistinguished or less talented. However, there is no reason whatsoever for doing that. They look up to the great, to the intelligent ones, to the “fine” things, the “polished” people, etc., even though they are among ungodly people. There is no reason for this either.

Esteem the God-fearing person in word and deed, giving him honor in the presence of all kinds of people—then you will have done the right thing. Look up to everyone who loves the Lord regardless of his attributes!

Scorn, contempt, looking down on the ungodly because of his ungodliness—regardless of how splendid a person he might be—then you are doing well. Scorn the selfish, the disobedient, the unrighteous, and the unfaithful.

David says in Psalm 119:158, “I see the treacherous, and am disgusted . . . .” Yet how lovely, how glorious, how precious, how worthy of esteem are those few souls who are godly, devout, righteous, peaceable, pure, upright, and loving!

We can shout with good reason, “Long may they live!” about them. And even if no one shouts it or wishes it for them, there is nevertheless One who will see to it and who will exalt them highly.