Corrects
“A scorner does not love one who corrects him, nor will he go to the wise” Proverbs 15:12
Corrects – Ken Blanchard says that the one of the best measures of servant leadership is the ability to take criticism. Ouch! That hurts. We are great at spotting those logs in the other person’s life, but we have such a hard time seeing our own. That’s why they call them “blind spots”. In business, blind spots are lethal. They are the places where we can’t see the forest for the trees. They are the vulnerable areas. Since we all have them, we better make provision for someone else to be watching for them. Then it is our job not to kill the messenger when the bad news is delivered.
Proverbs tells us that a scorner rejects correction. The Hebrew root yakach implies rebuke for violation of God’s law. This is correction with a moral element. The intention is repentance and instruction in wisdom but the scorner will have nothing to do with it. He is driven by pride and pride cannot admit faults. From God’s perspective, pride is the roadblock that stands in the way of God’s purposes.
How do you measure up on God’s “scorner” scale?
- When someone suggests that you are acting outside of God’s path, what is your immediate reaction? Is it justification or is it thanksgiving?
- When you realize that you have been wrong or that you overlooked something important, how do you react to the one who brought you that insight? Do you recognize God’s voice in their words or do you reject the message and the messenger?
- When you are confronted with criticism, do you ask God’s forgiveness and thank Him for pointing it out to you or do you get angry (even at yourself)?
Proverbs tells us that those who follow God acknowledge they have blind spots and deliberately choose the company of others who will offer correction. How about you? Do you have an intentional correction group? Have you thanked God for the one who points out your blind spots? Have you sought out the counsel of the wise?
