Proverbs 12
The writer of Proverbs now moves
from the longer lessons of chapters 1-12 to individual sayings. Each one
describes a particular practical outworking of wisdom and folly. Most of the
Proverbs are two liners, the second often providing a contrast to the first.
Some of the proverbs are linked and others stand alone. This week we will take
a look at some of the individual Proverbs and discover that they have much to
say to our lives today.
Criticism and the kernel of truth
‘Whoever
loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid’ v1 and
‘The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice’ v 15
Last week I emailed a piece of
work to a colleague for comment. I eagerly opened the reply, expecting to feel
the warm glow of affirmation as I read positive comments. She did say that it
was a great effort, but the rest of the email gave a quantity of corrective
advice as to how I could improve things. I had spent a long time crafting the
original draft and her feedback was hard to take. However gently it is given,
few of us enjoy receiving criticism, but the writer of Proverbs encourages us
that the way of wisdom is to embrace correction. The fact is that inside every
criticism is usually a kernel of truth, and rather than taking offence we would
do well to try to identify where truth lies and to adjust our step accordingly.
This can be challenging and may involve laying down our pride and our right to
be right. But the writer of Proverbs tells us that this is the way of wisdom
and the one that God invariably uses to shape his character in us.
If you are on the receiving end of
criticism this week ask God to help you see any kernel of truth and then adjust
your step accordingly.
(husband and wife)