HIS IS FOR YOUR OWN GOOD
PROVERBS 15:31-32 NKJV
31 The ear that hears the rebukes of life
Will abide among the wise.
32 He who disdains instruction despises his own soul,
But he who heeds rebuke gets understanding.
My parents used to tell me before they spanked me that this was for my own good. Needless to say, that at time I failed to recognize the wisdom of that statement.
Proverbs is not a book of fluff. There are very few kittens and rainbow verses. Actually, there are no kitten and rainbow verses, but you get my point. The book of Proverbs is a book of wisdom.
One of the themes we find in Proverbs is correction. And particularly how correction is received. We do not find as much on how correction is to be given, but Proverbs 15:1 tells us that correction should not be harsh. Harsh words stir up anger.
The thing about correction is the fact that receiving correction is optional. Verse 31 speaks to the ear that hears correction is wish. More accurately, the one who hears the rebukes of life is wise.
The rebuke of life is correction that will get us on the right path. The right path is the ultimate objective, not our feelings. My generation elevated feelings to a place they never should have held. How we feel about God's wisdom is not the most important thing. Being wise in a godly way is much more important.
Verse 32 says if you disdain instruction, you despise your own soul. If help comes our way for our good, then our response should be gratitude, not disdain.
I realize this flies in the face of so much conventional thinking. But all of us know people who have been warned and ignored the warning to their own ruin.
The principal theme here is to seek out rather than avoid correction. Sure, it can be hard on our pride, but it can make things so much better for our lives.
Correction, godly correction, through the years, has saved my marriage, restored relationships, helped my leadership, and blessed my life.
And I am not done with being corrected. If I am still growing, then correction is still coming my way. And I am glad.
PRAYER:
Thank You, Lord, for Your correction and the people in my life who have brought correction my way.