Gold Nugget
Verse12-13: 12 And say: "How I have hated instruction, And my heart despised correction! 13 I have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, Nor inclined my ear to those who instructed me!
Commentary
When we were little we all played "Simon Says". I will admit it - when I was a kid, this was one of the lamest games I ever played. I never found the fun in this game of never ending profitless commands. I didn't see what everyone else saw in it. How did this game survive the first few players that invented it? The funny thing is, I wasn't really rebellious to authority. I didn't have a chip on my shoulder, I just didn't see the reasoning behind standing there mimicking someone else. I disobeyed as much as any kid, it just wasn't out of spite. My rebellion stemmed from whether or not I thought it was of value to me. If I was told to clean my room, I may not see the value for me and therefore; I wouldn't always clean it.
Today's gold nugget deals with this issue. As someone who has been issued much correction, instruction and counsel; I know what goes through the mind of one being corrected, instructed an counseled. As someone who has issued correction, instruction and counsel; I have see people that resist and reject correction, instruction and counsel. In our nature, we hate instruction and despise correction (verse 12). Much like I described myself, we choose what instructions we will receive based on how much value we think it brings. We that are receiving or being offered wisdom in correction, instruction, etc. weigh out whether or not we think it is worthy of our heeding. Here lies the problem. Throughout the bible, it often mentions (several times here in Proverbs alone) that a man often sees things in his own eyes. He thinks he is wise or correct all while being a fool.
I have learned over the years to have spiritual authority above me that I submit to. When these people are correcting me, I try to receive their instruction and not refer to my own perspective as the final authority. If you don't find this being a part of your walk, it can be a real growth killer. God will put people in your life to correct and instruct you in wisdom, the problem is we usually reject them when they come.
Prayer
Lord, help me to listen and receive instruction from those you send to me. I don't want to reject people that you send to me because they don't pass my test for who is qualified to instruct me. Keep me from allowing only perfect people without any fault to correct me. This would ensure that no one will be able to instruct me. I wan't to be a good follower as well as a good leader. Amen
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