Stubborn Mule

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

Can I be honest with you?  I really don’t care for this verse!  Okay, the truth is it’s convicting.  It has convicted me to the very depth of my soul.  The reason I don’t like it is because I feel this verse was written for me.  I’ve been stupid.  I love to give instruction, teach, and share what God is doing.  But quite frankly, something I’ve noticed in this last year is that I don’t take instruction well.  I’m not sure what it is inside me that just rebels when someone points out a fault I have or something that I could work on.

In this, I’m learning that I need to step back, breathe, and accept every new challenge!  I don’t know everything!  Yep, it’s true!  I’m still learning and the more I learn, the more I see I have yet to learn.  Thankfully, I’m young…  I have a lot of time left to learn who and what I need to be in Christ.  I just wish that the learning curve was a little quicker!

I even took time to look this verse up in a few other translations.  I was hoping the blow to my ego would be a little softer, but no such luck!  Here is what I found.

Whoever loves instruction and correction loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is like a brute beast, stupid and indiscriminating.  (AMP)

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If you love learning, you love the discipline that goes with it—how shortsighted to refuse correction! (MSG)

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Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish. (KJV)

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To learn, you must love discipline; it is stupid to hate correction. (NLV)

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Whoever loves discipline loves to learn, but whoever hates correction is a dumb animal. (God’s Word)

All I can say is that I don’t want to be stupid, brutish, shortsighted, or compared to an animal any longer!  This year, I choose to enjoy instruction.  May God help me graciously accept the wisdom that others have to offer me!

Read more of Proverbs 12

Dear Father God, Thank You for identifying yet another area in my life that I need to work on!  I praise You for never giving up on me, but continuing to strengthen me through Your Word!  Please help me to readily accept instruction and strive for complete holiness in You!

Tired of Being Stupid,