Proverbs 12:1 (AMP)
Whoever loves instruction and discipline loves knowledge, But he who hates reproof and correction is stupid.
You have probably heard the story of the Dad who was spanking his little boy and he said to him “Son I am doing this because I love you.” In the midst of the wailing and crying the young lad looked at his dad tears freely flowing from his eyes and he said “When I grow up I will make sure I love you back!”
Reproof and correction are not pleasant and they can be painful. In fact some parents desist from correcting their children because of its confrontational nature and in their thinking they do not want to hurt their kids feelings.
Hebrews 12:11 (AMP)
11 For the time being no discipline brings joy, but seems sad and painful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness [right standing with God and a lifestyle and attitude that seeks conformity to God’s will and purpose].
A fool is short sighted and so they reject correction. They interpret correction and discipline as rejection because they live just for the moment and thus the pain and discomfort are interpreted as rejection. Hebrews says that though discipline brings pain, yet it is profitable for training and afterwards it yields the fruit of righteousness.
Proverbs 17:10 (AMP)
10 A reprimand goes deeper into one who has understanding and a teachable spirit than a hundred lashes into a fool.
Because they lack understanding and a teachable spirit a fool benefits not from discipline, even 100 lashes will not be profitable to them. The word tells us that those God loves He will also discipline. A wise son is one who will lean from and allow the discipline to train him to be a better person and not to make the same mistakes.
What is your attitude towards discipline? Do you embrace it and learn from it? Do you see it as training ground to make you into a better person? You and I need to look at it that way because that is its purpose. Remember the fool hates reproof and correction and thus they remain a fool and profit not from it
