Proverbial life: accepting correction

We’re taking a topic-focused tour of the book of Proverbs.  Although Solomon was commenting on life roughly 3000 years ago, his observations ring loud and clear in today’s modern times.  In this blog post, we’ll be looking at a situation that most – if not all – of us find rather challenging: accepting correction.

When it comes to receiving correction (whether it is through advice or reprimand), we have certain steps that we reflexively take, and they go completely unnoticed most of the time.  Can you relate to this?  Immediately after hearing the correction, we begin to evaluate the source of the correction.  We ask questions like:

Does their authority level grant them the right to correct me on this?
Do I think they are competent enough to give good advice?
Do they know me well enough to make these comments?
Was the correction phrased in a way I accept, or were they harsh, rude, or mean in the delivery?
Are they being hypocritical?

If we deem the source to be unworthy or hypocritical…we allow ourselves to simply dismiss the correction.  But should that be our approach?  As we go through these proverbs, look for Solomon’s focus – Is it on the correction or the person delivering it?

Our first proverb deals with something you either love or you hate: instructions. 

Proverbs 10:17
The one who follows instruction is on the path to life,
but the one who rejects correction goes astray.

Some of us find comfort in instructions, while others believe them to be restrictive.  Both instruction and correction come from outside of us…someone else provides them to us.  Notice that Solomon isn’t addressing the instruction/correction giver here.  Are we willing to listen to correction in order to avoid going astray?

Our second proverb also gives warning for ignoring correction, but a little more bluntly this time:

Proverbs 12:1
Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
but one who hates correction is stupid.

I hate messing up.  What makes it worse is if someone in authority calls me out on it.  Even if they’re gentle about giving the course correction, my internal self-flogging is always worse than whatever the correcting authority can tell me.  Because I am so much harder on myself, I have the tendency to disregard the “lower-level” of correction someone else provides.  This attitude can make it easy to dismiss their correction; however, according to Solomon, despising that correction makes me stupid and foolish.

Our third proverb gets right to the heart of the matter:

Proverbs 12:15
A fool’s way is right in his own eyes,
but whoever listens to counsel is wise.

Arrogance is blinding.  Again, our attitude is the one in focus; Solomon’s not talking about the correction-giver.  If we’re always right in our own eyes, we are certain to play the fool.  The opposite of arrogance is humility…are we humble enough to listen to counsel so we don’t end up fooling ourselves and causing unnecessary pain and difficulty?

Our last proverb extols the positive of listening to correction:

Proverbs 15:32
Anyone who ignores discipline despises himself,
but whoever listens to correction acquires good sense.

In order to accept correction from someone else, we must have the humility to hear it.  It doesn’t matter how high up the correcting authority is, if we do not humbly approach the course of our lives then we’re going to end up arrogant and obstinate.  Even if the advice comes from an unexpected or less-than-perfect source, we need to have the humility to evaluate their counsel before we disregard the correction based upon the person who gives it. 

Keep Pressing,
Ken

Stomaching the misconduct of leaders

I think Dr. Thomas Constable was right when he wrote in his notes on 1 Timothy, “Criticism of leaders is a favorite spectator sport.” 

Let’s face it – not everyone is going to agree with or “like” every pastor they come across.  But how should an accusation of misconduct be handled?

As Paul continued his instructions for Timothy regarding the appointment of church leadership, he takes a realistic, yet extremely serious, approach to dealing with leaders who may not be living up the standards their position would require.

1 Timothy 5:19-21
Don’t accept an accusation against an elder unless it is supported by two or three witnesses.  Publicly rebuke those who sin, so that the rest will also be afraid.  I solemnly charge you, before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing out of favoritism.

Paul’s directions fit in perfectly with what Jesus taught his disciples about church discipline (Matthew 18:15-17).  Timothy must thoroughly evaluate an accusation against an elder.  One person’s word isn’t sufficient.  However, if the charge proves true – if the elder isn’t living up to the qualifications set forth a few verses back in 1 Timothy 3, then a public rebuke and/or removal from office may be in order.  These steps would correct the issue with the elder in question…but also keep the other elders from falling into the same trap. 

Paul could not have been more serious regarding the importance of going through this process without any prejudice or favoritism.  When Jesus referred to his return with the Father and the elect angels, it was in regard to judgment (Matt 25:31; Mark 8:38; Luke 9:26; Rev 14:10).  While we might be tempted to think that a public rebuke is too harsh, it is better for an elder to be confronted now than for them to go on unchecked and then be confronted later by Jesus at the Bema judgement.

In order to avoid these kinds of situations, Paul gives Timothy some additional guidance:

1 Timothy 5:22-25
Don’t be too quick to lay hands on anyone, and don’t share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.

Don’t continue drinking only water, but use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.

Some people’s sins are evident, going before them to judgement, but the sins of others follow them.

Likewise, good works are obvious, and those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden.

Paul’s water vs. wine comment might seem a little strange to us, but keep in mind that wine was used for medicinal purposes in the ancient world.  Purified water from a faucet wasn’t readily available like it is for us.  Even though their water may look fine, there was a decent chance that it was contaminated.  Using a small amount of alcoholic wine would have been beneficial in keeping his digestive tract in working order.

It seems to me that Paul is taking a practical step from Timothy’s life and using it as an example of how to manage the appointment of leaders.  Timothy needs be cautious about appointing someone to represent God and lead others in their relationship with Jesus.  Just because someone seems like a “nice Christian guy” and he can quote a few Scriptures doesn’t mean he should be leading the congregation.  The importance of Timothy taking preventative measures to keep pure would also ensure that the church family would also avoid having to stomach elder-judgement issues in the future.

Bottom line for us?  We need to recognize that our leader’s lives matter.  We can’t expect them to be perfect, but their position mandates a level of blamelessness in order for them to handle this kind of influence on God’s family.  Just like Timothy needed to take appropriate steps in evaluating a leader, we need to do the same when we are considering who we get our Bible teaching from.  Just because they’re on the radio doesn’t mean they are “good” and their teaching is accurate.  Just because they are “really nice” doesn’t mean that we should be submitting to their leadership.  We need to do some work on the front end to avoid being misled.

Keep Pressing,
Ken