Scared Straight

Read Proverbs 17

A single rebuke does more for a person of understanding than a hundred lashes on the back of a fool.

Proverbs 17:10

Two teens get into trouble. One’s brush with the law scares him straight. The other is in and out of court—and in and out of jail—for the rest of his life. How do we account for this difference? According to the book of Proverbs, the first kid is wise; the second is a fool.

A wise person carefully and quickly heeds words of warning. He or she realizes that a rebuke, while sometimes embarrassing, is actually a gift. Coming from an older, wiser saint, the discerning soul receives constructive criticism, knowing it can prevent much trouble and regret.

Meanwhile, fools are impervious to discipline. Not even excessive physical punishment can change the ways of the hardheaded and hard-hearted. They are stubborn and, barring a sudden change, headed for even bigger trouble.

We would do well to consider how we respond when corrected.

A WORD FOR TODAY

Learn to discriminate between foolishness and wisdom.

Today, Lord, I want to make progress in the area of being open to rebukes based on truth and offered in love. Make me teachable.