TEXT: PROVERBS 9: 7-9
Whoever corrects a
mocker invites insults; whoever rebukes the wicked incurs abuse.
8 Do not rebuke mockers
or they will hate you; rebuke the wise and they will love you. 9 Instruct the
wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to
their learning.
One popular says is “no
one is an island of knowledge.” Another one says “Only a fool knows it all.”
Nobody is too “small” to
learn from if you really want to learn. If the Lord can instruct us to learn
from the Ants (Proverbs 6: 9-11) one of the smallest (if not the smallest)
creatures on earth, then you have no excuse not to learn from your fellow human
being.
If you are not open to
correction, if you believe you have known it all, you will be limited in wisdom
and knowledge.
You will only be able
to perform in the level of the wisdom and knowledge you acquire.
We need to learn from
each other so that we can add to what we know- for your knowledge and wisdom to
increase and not become obsolete, you need to constantly learn from others.
Wisdom and knowledge can come to you as a form of
CORRECTION. When it comes like that let your heart be open to
receive it will joy and gladness, so that you can add to your wealth of wisdom.
We need to learn from
each other so that we can add to what we have already known. Nobody is hundred
percent complete- that is why we need to rob minds so that we can exchange
ideas, knowledge and wisdom.
Your area of weakness
could be someone’s area of strength. If you are not open to correction, how
will you be able make amends and work on your weakness?
Would you prefer to
continue in the act of foolishness rather than accepting to be corrected in
love?
People that are not ready to be corrected are
proud people. Their pride is what hinders them from adding to their wisdom and
knowledge- Pride has made their mind to be closed from all great ideas, wisdom
and knowledge that they could have gained from others.
They become narrow
minded because they refused to inculcate into their lives Romans 12:2 which
says we should be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Your mind can only
be transformed and be renewed from its original state when you are open to
correction.
Our text says “Whoever
corrects a mocker invites insults; whoever rebukes the wicked incurs abuse. The
Bible refers to those that are not open to correction as mockers, wicked and
foolish people. The text says they hate you when you correct them- when you
want good thing for them, they want evil for you- they take you as their
personal enemy!
The text said on the
other hand that when a wise person is being corrected, he will take your
correction on board and make amends; and add to his wealth of wisdom and
knowledge to become wiser. Wise people accept correction with gladness of heart
and love you for correcting them. What a big difference between the wise and
the foolish.
“Rebuke the wise and
they will love you. 9 Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the
righteous and they will add to their learning.” (Prov. 8b-9).
The conclusion of today’s
message is that you should not be too “big” to be corrected- have a receptive
heart to corrections, good ideas and advice – if you want your wisdom to be
relevant at all times, learn new wisdom from others.
For you not to be a
mocker, a fool and an evil person, you must be receptive to corrections. God
bless.
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