This is a huge verse from Proverbs!
And I've been looking forward to diving into this...Pretty much all day. I'm really enjoying these #kingdomproverbs verses that we've been going over and I hope you find as much value in this one as I did. Let's dive in :)
Now when we reference the image that has 'Proverbs Men' we see that it reads that the man and woman 'disciplines themself'. Which when you read the King James Version of this verse, you are left scratching your head. Where do we see 'discipline' within this context....
Maybe another translation might make more sense.
This is what the English Standard Version (ESV) reads:
"Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid."
Whoa! That's a harsh pill to swallow but let's dive into this.....
First, we find the word discipline in this translation, which allows us to unpack the verse found on the 'Proverbs Men' image. The end result of good discipline is a love of knowledge and wisdom. And remember, King Solomon asked God for wisdom and understanding. Not wealth, fancy cars and a bunch of bling. This is critical to understanding why the wise men and women of this world aren't after the flashy stuff....They are after God and His character.
Sadly, we see from this verse that people that aren't after God, are considered 'stupid' when they are shown the truth. They fight it, they hate being wrong and parade their ego and pride around like they run the world.
This is foolish, excuse me, this is 'stupid' according to Scripture.
So as we go through this thing called life, we know that when we discipline ourselves to walk after God and model ourselves to His character, we become wise. Also for me, the other way to look at this is to accept correction! Be o.k. with not knowing everything, because we are on a journey for truth and a journey to learn everything we can about God!
He will reveal all to us in time, just give Him some patience! Or as the popular saying goes, God's delays are not His denials.
Powerful to think about!
So let's put this into practical use for us to put into action....
Remember what are the important things....Wisdom & Knowledge!
Get those by being open to instruction and correction.
Develop the discipline to seek them every single day!
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The book of proverbs is awesome. Many of these kinds of texts that are very powerful.
For sure. One of my favorite books in the bible!
Proverbs 12:1 contrasts two attitudes toward personal growth,embracing discipline as a pathway to wisdom versus rejecting correction out of pride or stubbornness.
POSITIVE ATTITUDE:
The first attitude embraces discipline, welcoming instruction, training, and correction as vital for gaining knowledge and wisdom.This reflects humility and a desire for growth, seeing feedback as a gift that refines character and understanding.
NEGATIVE ATTITUDE:
The second attitude rejects reproof, resenting or ignoring criticism, which Proverbs labels as stupid or brutish. This stubborn refusal blocks improvement, likening the person to an unreasoning animal that repeats errors without learning.
Thanks 🙏 for this wonderful Proverbs series @jongolson,it so edifying and soul lifting.
#bbh
Amen to that!
Thanks for following along. I still have plenty of verses to go over :)
The contrast between wisdom and foolishness is so clear. It is all about being open to correction and growing from it.
Yup, it really is!