Why Rejecting Correction Is Just… Stupid (Proverbs 12:1)
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Proverbs 12:1
Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
but he who hates reproof is stupid.
Oh yes. Yesterday we talked about why we should love discipline, and we’re not stopping there because Proverbs isn’t stopping there.
“Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
but he who hates reproof is stupid.”
I really love this verse. I do. It lays out so plainly the contrast with discipline and reproof. Those who love it love knowledge (more on that in a second). Those who hate it, well, they’re stupid. Not my language; that’s what the Bible says.
Now I haven’t done my due diligence on it, but I wonder if this is the only place in the Bible we see the word “stupid.” I mean, I have no memory of it, and if it shows up elsewhere, its uses, I’m sure, are few and far between. Regardless, this is strong language here, and that’s important to note because it stresses the importance of loving discipline. It exalts discipline to be highly esteemed and regarded. To hate it really would be stupid.
Think about it.
Reproof isn’t proof of God’s absence – it’s proof of His love.
It leads to grace, it leads to knowledge… So why would we hate it?
Well, if we do, it’s because of our pride. Our pride blocks our want of grace, as we don’t think we need it. It blocks our want for understanding and knowledge because we think we have it all. And it blocks our love for the Lord, because rather than submitting to Him in dependence and humility, we want to exalt ourselves in independence and arrogance.
In a way, it reminds me of my dog Teddy, and maybe you can relate to this. There have been a few instances where she’s had some injury with her foot – a cut, a thorn stuck in her foot – and it’s caused her discomfort and pain. Yet when we try to help her, she hoots and hollers and kicks and won’t let you do it. I mean, she really won’t, although the act of doing so is clearly meant to be a grace and help to her. THAT… is like the fool who rejects reproof.
Whether it be from the hand of God like we saw yesterday or the mouth of our brother, we are stupid to reject the reproof that is trying to get the thorn from under our feet and help us to walk honorably and healthily with the Lord.
This verse is, like I said, a matter of our affection, of love and of hate. And with that, I want you to join me in prayer in asking the Lord to change and transform our hearts to love what He loves, to love discipline, and to hate what He hates.
In other words, we need God to change our hearts to love discipline the way He does. Let’s ask Him for that now.
Let’s pray.
