| There is a trio of proverbs that speak to the power of | | | | discipline and their anger will bring no one peace (vs. 1, |
| life and death. These are instructional. For whoever | | | | 18). By virtue of their lack of resolve they despise their |
| hears these words and understands them and more | | | | parents (v. 20). How could this not be seen as the |
| appropriately heeds them, they will reap life. These | | | | despising of one's self? |
| words are as follows: | | | | But... |
| "Stern discipline awaits those who leave the path; | | | | "If you listen to constructive criticism, you will be at |
| those who hate correction will die. Death and | | | | home among the wise. If you reject discipline, you only |
| Destruction lie open before the LORD--how much | | | | harm yourself; but if you listen to correction, you grow |
| more do human hearts! Mockers resent correction, so | | | | in understanding" -Proverbs 15:31-32 (NLT). |
| they avoid the wise" -Proverbs 15:10-12 (TNIV). | | | | Listening to feedback with both honesty and courage, |
| Most people treat life so lightly--as if it were their | | | | always prepared to accept what might come, is a |
| solemn and sovereign right to be here--little knowing | | | | golden way to live. Parents, of course, are in a position |
| they're here at God's pleasure and their tenure is one | | | | to give good advice most of the time so their advice |
| hundred percent dependent on him! | | | | should be sought, considered and generally heeded. |
| God has power over all realms of life, and specifically | | | | (We must know, however, that not all parents are |
| in these situations regarding the physical and spiritual | | | | wise!--but they should always be respected.) Listening |
| life. When we ignore God and do bad things for our | | | | to feedback, in all situations, can only help us grow in |
| health and safety we risk physical illness or injury on | | | | understanding. |
| the way to possible physical death. When we do bad | | | | It's a refrain in Proverbs; ignore discipline and correction |
| things morally we risk spiritual death... indeed, we are | | | | and we will become foolish by nature. It's almost as |
| there already, in an instant. | | | | basic as cause and effect. A good sign of this is the |
| But, the spiritual death is not final, at least up until | | | | life of the foolish as compared to the life of the wiser |
| physical death, that is. We can be resurrected spiritually | | | | person. The person ignoring discipline and correction is |
| in the shortest moment. But this very much depends | | | | going to have their way blocked--they will be |
| on our approach toward discipline and correction--if we | | | | frustrated, and often; whereas the way of the more |
| cannot endure both we won't get far. | | | | humble person is a level highway (v. 19) in comparison. |
| The foolish will reject their parents' discipline (v. 5) and | | | | Copyright © 2009, S. J. Wickham. All Rights |
| suffer fresh spiritual death as a result. Their lack of | | | | Reserved. |