LEARNING DAILY

 

Proverbs 12:1, Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid.

 

Not many of us enjoy being corrected and told we are wrong. There is a need for some humility in a person to accept correction or to be taught when necessary. All of us have seen individuals argue or get angry when another corrects them regarding what they have done or their way of thinking. Solomon is quite blunt about the person who cannot admit to be mistaken or to have committed a mistake – he/she hates knowledge and is stupid.

 

Over many years, I have seen that the best way to learn was from our mistakes. For example, in my first year in college, I learned to pay attention to what the professor wanted in tests and writing assignments. J. M. Miller wanted to know who, what, when, where, and how; anything else was a waste of time with him. During my first years of teaching/coaching, I learned to look parents in the eye and tell them the truth and not dance around it about their student’s behavior, my classroom, and coaching style. Yes, I learned from my mistakes in this matter. I believe you each have stories of what you have learned by making mistakes, as well.

 

There are different ways to responding to discipline or correction. According to Solomon, a wise person takes correction and criticism under consideration. By contrast is the one who refuses to hear those corrections. Solomon calls them stupid. Stupid is defined as showing a great lack of intelligence or common sense. The person defined here may be highly intelligent and well-educated but refuses to be corrected.

 

Notice the contrast in the words “love” and “hate”. Is Solomon talking about emotional reactions here? Perhaps he is talking about preferences. I have been corrected and “preferred” not to be. I have corrected people in authority and they “preferred” not to be. I do not mind being corrected when it is done in a way that I benefit; I hate it done in a way that puts me down or belittles me. I think the point is that godly people want to be given constructive criticism when they can apply it in their lives.

 

As Christians we should be seeking knowledge about how to live life on the narrow way. We do so to mature and live the life the Lord wants us to live. Sometimes we misinterpret the Word or believe that once a person accepts Jesus Christ as their Savior, they can live any way we want to. Those people need to be corrected; they should welcome it. They welcome discipline, correction, and instruction because they want to live the way the Lord wants them to.

 

It is a good thing to realize we do not know everything. When we realize this, we can place ourselves where we can learn all we can and how we can. Accepting the correction from others is a necessary part of our growth and maturity as we walk the narrow way to God’s kingdom. We need to also understand we should remain humble before God and diligently seek greater levels of knowledge, understanding, and wisdom through His Word and through prayer.