One Who Listens

“One who listens to life giving rebukes will be at home among the wise.” Prov 15:31 csb

Christians are too defensive these days. Sometimes it seems no one is willing to listen to honest rebukes or correction. Oftentimes, they think that the one doing the correction is judging them and that makes them unwilling to listen.

The ability to receive correction is essential for our growth as christians. In order to grow in our walk with the Lord we must allow others to speak truth into our lives. The Bible tells us in the verse above that we will be at home among the wise when we allow ourselves to receive what is being given. 

I love reading different version or translation of the Bible. It often times gives me a clearer picture of what is being said. Another version of this verse above says this: “If you listen to constructive criticism, you will be at home with the wise.” Pro 15:31 nlt

The word that stick out the most to me in this version is the word IF. IF gives us a choice doesn’t it? Listen to the next verse in Proverbs in light of this… ” IF you reject discipline or correction, you only harm yourself. But IF you listen to correction, you will grow in understanding.” This verse presents us with a set of consequences based on our choice. Rejection of correction, brings harm. Acceptance brings understanding. 

I had something happen to me very recently that will illustrate this point. My husband and I have been going through a pretty rough patch right now. During this time I had found myself becoming angry and bitter at all that was going on. Some bad choices had caused all this pain and I was finding it hard to come to grips with it all. One morning out of frustration I called my best friend. I’ve known her for over 20 years and now even though we live miles away from each other, we still have a REAL friendship and are as close as ever. As I poured out my heart to her, she quietly listened, praying for me as she did so. Even though she agreed with me, understood my frustrations and even sympathized with my feelings, she started her response to me like this; ” You know I love you and even though you may not want to hear this…” She spent the next few minutes gently rebuking me. At first my flesh reared up… and I thought,  how can you say that … why are you not on my side…why did I even call you…etc. But then the LORD cut through my flesh and I began to hear the words I needed to hear. My anger, my frustration began to melt away like butter on a hot day. She gave me HIS words, HIS perspective and as I began to receive the correction HE was giving through her, I gained HIS understanding of how HE wanted my attitude to be. I had a choice. I could have said… Thanks but no thanks to her words, but then I would still be in an angry, bitter and frustrated state… one that would not benefit me or my husband. OR… I could accept the correction…take it in to my heart and allow the LORD to give me His heart and peace. 

“Anyone who ignores discipline despises himself, but whoever listens to correction aquires good sense. Prov 15:32csb

Believe me, there would have been a time when I would have rejected the words that were spoken to me on that day, The FLESH, my flesh demanded satisfaction. I wanted to be justified by my feelings. That is an example of being spiritually immature.  If we allow our feelings to block out what the Lord is speaking to us we will not grow.  Like a plant without water that shrivels up and eventually dies, so does our spirit without the water that flows from the Spirit.  We become harder and harder of heart if we continually resist the Spirit.  

When we learn to listen the to words of correction, take them to heart and act on them, we begin to mature.   When we allow the Spirit to water the hard ground of our hearts, the seeds He planted begin to bud and our responses to situations in our lives reflect the growth we have made.  

Some questions to ponder.  Are we mature enough to listen?  Do we have the humility to receive the words, the correction that has been given and apply it to our lives.  This will not be easy.  Which one of us wants to be told that we are wrong in our actions or in our thinking, not me.  In the example above, I did not want to be toldI was wrong.  I was the one that was suffering and not of my own doing.  But then, didn’t Jesus suffer, in an even more horrific way, and that was not of his own doing either.  We must take the road Jesus did if we are to be anything like him. 

Spiritual maturity comes when we turn ourselves over to the Spirit of the Lord.  When we allow ourselves to respond to every day situations as scripture tells us to, we grow.  We are not called to be perfect.  We are called to entrust ourselves to the Lord and sometimes that means listening, receiving and acting on correction.  Remember we have not arrived, nor will we in this life, but when we humble ourselves and do things God’s way, people will see the changes in us and in that will draw them to Jesus.

“Until that final day, He will preserve you; and on that final day, he will consider you faultless.  Count on this:  God is faithful and His faithfulness called you out into an intimate relationship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”  1Cor 1:8 the voice

Until next time,

Patty