By Audrey Bauman

Proverbs 9: 7 – 9   (NLT)

“Anyone who rebukes a mocker will get an insult in return.
    Anyone who corrects the wicked will get hurt.
⁸ So don’t bother correcting mockers;
    they will only hate you.
But correct the wise,
    and they will love you.
⁹ Instruct the wise,
    and they will be even wiser.
Teach the righteous,
    and they will learn even more.

Those verses are rather interesting.  Wise people want to learn, and they are OK with correction.  In fact, they love their teachers, mentors, or anyone who can help them become better.   

So once again, I start asking myself questions.   How do I react to criticism?  Do I like to learn something new, or does that make me feel swamped or even make me think I’m inadequate?  Do I want to be a better person in a variety of ways, or am I content to stay the same?  

What I sure don’t want is to be a “mocker” - someone who thinks they know everything, someone who would rather shoot other’s ideas down than listen and learn.  In fact, if you know someone like that, don’t bother to correct them or try to help them learn something new.  According to these verses, it’s a waste of time – even harmful since they will consider you an enemy. 

Solomon gave us some questions to ask ourselves today as we take a look at how we react to correction, or the opportunity to learn something new.  Also some good advice – don’t try to reform a “know-it-all”. 

Our song for today is Humble Heart by Matt McChlery.