The Wisdom of Correction

*Are you hard-headed and stubborn? For many of us, our pride causes us to be hard-headed, impervious to godly counsel, and stiff-necked to correction.

*Specifically, are you hard-headed and stiff-necked when it comes to correction for God, His word, and His people? It is one thing to be hard-headed about general matters in life. But it is another thing entirely to be hard-headed when it comes to the correction of God’s word.

*Contrast between the fool and the wise. Like other issues we have encountered, the fool and the wise have a fundamentally different response to correction. The fool rejects it and eats the bitter fruit of his sin. The wise man receives it and finds life and well-being.

*John 10:10. “The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy. But I have come that you may have life and have it more abundantly.”

*In what follows, the give our attention to the instruction found in the Proverbs regarding correction.

Those Who Receive Correction Preserve Life and Thrive.

The teaching of Proverbs. In a variety of places, proverbs shows us that who are willing to receive correction bring protection and blessing to themselves, and that this protection is more precious than fine riches.

• Proverbs 3:11. “My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor detest His correction. For whom the Lord loves He corrects, Just as a father the son in whom he delights. Happy is the man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains understanding; For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, And her gain than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies, And all the things you may desire cannot compare with her. Length of days is in her right hand, In her left hand riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, And all her paths are peace.”
  • Note the metaphor of fine jewelry. What God gives us in correction is life-giving and thus better than the riches of the world.
  • Also note the motivation of God’s correction to us. He does it because He loves us and seeks to protect us. By receiving His correction, we prolong our days.
• Proverbs 6:23. “For the commandment is a lamp, And the law a light; Reproofs of instruction are the way of life.”
  • Note the metaphor of light here. God’s correction is instructive to us, showing us the way to life and fullness.
• Proverbs 20:5. “Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.”
  • Note the metaphor of a well. God’s counsel is like the water from a deep well, refreshing, satisfying, and life-giving. If you are wise, seek it out.
• Proverbs 25:12. “Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold is a wise rebuke to an obedient ear.”
  • Again the metaphor of fine jewelry.

Application. Thus, if we are wise, we will receive the correction of the Lord and His people.

Receiving Correction is a Mark of True Wisdom.

The Teaching of Proverbs. In various places, Proverbs shows us that receiving wisdom is yet another indication of true wisdom in a persons’ life.

• Proverbs 15:31. “The ear that hears the rebukes of life will abide among the wise.”
  • The idea here is that by receiving a rebuke, we are identified with wisdom itself, and our life will be directed by it.
• Proverbs 19:20-21. “Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter days. ²¹ There are many plans in a man’s heart, nevertheless the Lord’s counsel—that will stand.”
  • The idea here is that listening and receiving instruction make us wise for life. And then implied in vs. 21 is that because we receive wisdom, our way is in keeping with God’s which stands.

Application. Do not be resistant and hard-headed to the correction of the Lord.

Rejecting Correction is the Mark of Foolishness.

The Teaching of Proverbs. Just as receiving correction is the mark of wisdom, rejecting it is the mark of foolishness. Notice what Proverbs says.

• Proverbs 15:12. “A scoffer does not love one who corrects him, nor will he go to the wise.”
  • The foolish scoffer resents those who try to correct him and will avoid the wise man.
• Proverbs 19:29. “Judgments are prepared for scoffers, and beatings for the backs of fools.”
  • Because they hate instruction and correction, they receive the bitter fruit of their ways. They are judged, punished, and tormented by the result of their rejection of correction.

Application. Don’t be a fool and reject the correction of God, His word, and His people.

Wisdom and Correction are Essential for the Big Decisions of Life.

The Teaching of Proverbs. His correction, for those who receive it, bring length of days and well-being. But the opposite is also true and taught straightforwardly in Proverbs. Those who reject it only bring harm to themselves.

• Proverbs 24:6. “For by wise counsel you will wage your own war, and in a multitude of counselors there is safety.”
  • Note here that major undertakings in life are done only via wise counsel. Our anger, frustration, and emotions can lead us astray. But correction from Godly counsel is a protection to us.
• Proverbs 11:14. “Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.”
  • Without correction and counsel, we fail in what we do. But we protect ourselves by seeking the counsel of the wise.

Application. Your decisions have a big impact on your life and the people around you. Again, you are like a ship in the sea creating a wake. See the Lord’s counsel, diligently.

Those Who Reject Correction Bring Harm to Themselves.

The Teaching of Proverbs. The Proverbs show us that those reject correction bring harm on themselves.

• Proverbs 10:17. “He who keeps instruction is in the way of life, but he who refuses correction goes astray.”
  • The choice here is between life and death. Those who keep instruction live in the way of life, but those who reject it end up in trouble.
• Proverbs 13:18. “Poverty and shame will come to him who disdains correction, but he who regards a rebuke will be honored.”
  • Notice here that those who reject correction end up with poverty and shame. By contrast, honor belongs to those who embrace it.

Application. If you don’t want hardship and the bitter fruit of sin, embrace the instruction of the Lord.

Sometimes Harsh Correction is Necessary.

The Teaching of Proverbs. Unfortunately, sometimes a harsh treatment is needed for those who reject correction.

• Proverbs 15:10. “Harsh discipline is for him who forsakes the way, and he who hates correction will die.”
  • Sometimes the best thing we can do for people is to let them taste the bitter fruit of their sin and rebellion. Sometimes it is necessary to give rough treatment to them.
• Proverbs 26:3. “A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the fool’s back.”
  • Notice here that the fool, one who rejects wisdom, is treated like an animal. Unpleasant treatment is given to teach and correct.

Application. Carefully consider how you pamper and caudle those who reject correction. Perhaps your soft response is harmful.

Correction Is Not to Be Wasted on the Fool.

The Teaching of Proverbs. In Proverbs, we are also told that we are not to waste our counsel or correction on the fool.

• Proverbs 9:8. “Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you; Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.”
  • Here we see that correcting a scoffer only causes them to hate you. By contrast, when you correct the wise man he loves you. Again, this is a major contrast between the wise and the foolish.
• Proverbs 17:10. “Rebuke is more effective for a wise man than a hundred blows on a fool.”
  • The point here is that wise people take only the smallest amount of correction, whereas with the fool, no amount of correction, or even great severity in correction, will cause him to receive wisdom.

Application. Be careful not to waste your time or exacerbate the fool by giving him correction. Sometimes you just have to let people do what they foolishly intend on doing.

Correct Children While there is Hope.

The Teaching of Proverbs. Parents listen up and take careful note. The Proverbs impart great wisdom for our parenting. In short, we are told to be diligent to correct our children early in life, so they learn quickly, avoid pitfalls, and walk in the fulness of life. This is not to say that discipline and correction are all that is needed, but it is to say that correction is essential.

• Proverbs 19:18. “Chasten your son while there is hope, and do not set your heart on his destruction.”
  • Two things to note here: (1) We correct while there is hope in forming them. If you fail to do this and allow them to set patterns of rebellion, you (2) “set your heart on his destruction.” By failing to discipline a child, you set that child up for far greater problems throughout his life.
• Proverbs 22:15. “Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; the rod of correction will drive it far from him.”
  • Children, because of their undeveloped minds and moral character, think only of fun and satisfaction. Left to itself, this brings destruction.
• Proverbs 29:15, 17. “The rod and rebuke give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother... Correct your son, and he will give you rest; yes, he will give delight to your soul.”
  • Here the Proverbs speak about the way a child can bring shame and sorrow to a family. But, the cause of this is a lack of correction and discipline while the child was young.
• Proverbs 23:13. “Do not withhold correction from a child, for if you beat him with a rod, he will not die.”
  • Correction is again essential for the longevity and well-being of our children’s lives.

Application. Parents, your children need you in many ways. But one of those ways is correction. As God above us corrects us because He loves us, so too do we correct our children if we love them.