HOW WE RECEIVE CORRECTION reveals much about our character. How do you respond when you are corrected? I used to be so hard-headed and stubborn that nobody was going to tell me what to do. Things began to change when I was born again of the Holy Spirit. I was a sponge, a poor lost child that needed direction and instruction. I did just about what anybody in my church told me to do. But after a few years walking with the Lord under my belt, I started to think I “had arrived”.
In my church, I went through a new believers class and then was put into a care a group. Every care group had responsibilities in the church- mostly under the service category. I was young and single, no kids. I remember this first month it fell on our care group to serve in the nursery. I can still remember my bad attitude, “why do I have to serve in the nursery? I don’t even have any kids!” Self righteously mocking in my heart. I can’t remember complaining to anyone, maybe I did, maybe I didn’t; but shame on me for my bad attitude and even greater shame on me if I complained to anyone sowing strife and discord.
My only saving grace was that I was still a baby Christian and I didn’t know any better. I quickly got corrected by the Lord for my bad attitude and my spiritual mom who I submitted myself to explained to me the Christian walk was a walk of service. I was also submitted to my care group leaders and my pastor. I expect this type of behavior from baby Christians and toddlers. They don’t know any better. But from those who claim to have been walking with Him a long time? What is wrong with you? I dare say you are not submitted to the Body of Christ and there’s rebellion and pride in your heart.
Our ladies Bible study has been in Proverbs now for 2 years and I have a much deeper understanding of wisdom. I don’t know about you, but I want to be wise and not a fool. Proverbs gives us 30 chapters of wisdom. The very first line of yesterday’s proverb really stuck out to me:
“A wise son heeds his father’s instruction, But a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.” Proverbs 13:1
For reference, here’s more on the scoffer:
“He who corrects a scoffer gets shame for himself, And he who rebukes a wicked man only harms himself. Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you; Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.” Proverbs 9:7-8
Scripture reveals that the scoffer, or “scorner” will not receive correction. This word comes from a Hebrew word which means “to make mouths at”. Imagine a child. Have you ever seen a child that has been corrected, the mother turns away and the kid begins to mock her with his mouth and rolling his eyes? Maybe sticking out his tongue? Or in a class room setting when the teacher corrects the classroom and the one smart aleck kid foolishly mocks the teacher silently by moving his mouth and contorting his face? Have you ever seen this? I can remember doing just this very thing to my mom, never to her face but always behind her back. This is the heart of the scoffer.
It is not the fault of the messenger or the message that makes the scoffer bite back at correction and instruction; but the hardness of his heart and that old stinking self-righteousness and pride that make him despise the teaching and hate the teacher. The self righteous cannot stand to be corrected because his pride will not allow it.
King David said, “let the righteous smite me! It is a kindness”. But honestly anyone should be able to correct us. I have found in my own life that God will use a stranger to correct me if need be. When someone reveals something in me I have a choice: to receive it and change, don’t receive it and toss it out. I believe that it is my responsibility to bring it all before the Lord. If I need to own it, then I own it and change. If it doesn’t fit me, I toss it out and move on.
I remember years ago a lady had a dream about a weed growing in my kitchen. She came to me about this dream and told me it was about me. Now, this lady was a scoffer. She was always rude and negative. She sowed discord, nagged and complained most of the time. She was a hard lady to deal with. But when she came to me, I took it seriously. I brought it before the Lord and asked, “Is this me?” I asked my husband and 2 trusted friends.
In the mouth of 2-3 witnesses, God establishes the Word. They all told me it wasn’t about me, but it was about her sowing weeds in my house. I brought the word back to her and now she needed to deal with it. She ended up leaving. But I did my due diligence before the Lord. Why does it matter who corrects me? God used a donkey. If it’s for my good, I need to own it and submit to the correction. Receiving correction is the only way we can grow and bear good fruit.
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