With my apologies to whoever or where ever I got this bible study from…
I have spoken to my class and our church on this subject and found it in my notes but I copied the first part from somewhere but do not remember where…(old age) ha…
However the ability to hear and heed correction is a great ability.
The ability to hear and heed correction
On January 28, 1986, the space shuttle Challenger and its crew embarked on a mission to broaden educational horizons and promote the advancement of scientific knowledge. The most outstanding objective of the Challenger 51-L mission was the delivery of educational lessons from space by teacher Christa McAuliffe. A lesson was, indeed, delivered, but not one which anyone expected.
Just 75 seconds after liftoff, tragedy struck. Before a watching world the shuttle suddenly erupted overhead, disintegrating the cabin along with its crew. The debris of metal, blood and bones plummeted to earth, along with our nation's glory.
What had gone wrong? That was the pressing question everyone asked. As teams of researchers examined the wreckage, the specific cause was soon found. The problem was with the O-rings (circular rubber seals), which had been designed to fit snugly into the joints of the booster engine sections. Evidently, the O-rings had become defective under adverse conditions, and the resulting mechanical failure led to the tragedy. Was that the whole story? The truth eventually got out. The New York Times put it frankly: the ultimate cause of the space shuttle disaster was pride. A group of top managers failed to listen carefully to the warnings, advice and criticisms given by those down the line who were concerned about the operational reliability of certain parts of the booster engine under conditions of abnormal stress. Just think: heeding criticism could have saved seven human lives
The ability to hear and heed correction or criticism is commended in Scripture, particularly in Proverbs. Being teachable, able and willing to receive correction, is a mark of the wise. And the wise father or mother will encourage as well as model such an attitude for their daughters and sons.
The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice (
Prov. 12:15).
Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice (
Prov. 13:10).
A rebuke impresses a man of discernment more than a hundred lashes a fool (
Prov. 17:10).
The ability to take advice, correction, and rebuke is not only considered a mark of the wise, and the inability a mark of the fool, but both the wise and the fool reap according to their ability to take criticism:
He who scorns instruction will pay for it, but he who respects a command is rewarded (
Prov. 13:13).
Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning (
Prov. 9:9).
He who ignores discipline despises himself, but whoever heeds correction gains understanding (
Prov. 15:32).
There is gain in taking criticism. No wonder David exclaims in
Psalm 141:5: Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness; let him rebuke me—it is oil on my head. My head will not refuse it. David knows the profit of gaining wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. He knows rebukes are a kindness, a blessing, an honor.
Ask yourself: Is that how you look at a rebuke? Is that how you perceive criticism, correction or counsel? Do you want to look at it that way? I. A Willingness to Receive Criticism is a Mark of the Wise.
(
Prov 12:15) The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.
o INPUT - as in many verses in the book of Proverbs, there is a comparison set up…what is the verse saying about the fool in the first half?
o INPUT - so what is the opposite of that?
A. The wise man recognizes his fallibility.
1. The way of the fool seems right to him….it is right in his own eyes….therefore there is going to be a real resistance to accepting criticism regardless of how its given.
2. In fact, my guess is that all of have people in our lives that we would say things like…
a. That person was very critical to me…they were very mean…they were very harsh…
b. Where, if the truth were to be known…it wasn't so much that they were being harsh as it was that we were being foolish.
(
Prov 13:10) Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.
c. Pride results in contention or quarrels.
d. But the second half of the verse tells us that there is wisdom in the well advised'
e. What's the point?
B. The wise man avoids quarreling.
1. The argument of this verse is very important.
2. On the one hand is the person who wisely receives counsel, and uses his energy to listen, to learn, and to change.
3. On the other hand is the person who because of pride and presumption pours the time and energy into quarreling, being defensive, fighting, pouting, etc.
4. A good question for all of us to ask is, which one am I more like?
(
Prov 17:10) A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.
C. The wise man listens quickly and carefully.
1. So what's the overall point here?
2. A willingness to receive criticism is a mark of the wise.
II. The Wise and the Fool Reap According to their Ability to Receive Criticism.
(
Prov 13:13) Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.
A. Fools pay for rejecting criticism, wise persons are rewarded for receiving it.
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