“One who loves discipline loves knowledge, but one who hates rebuke is stupid.”
I
tried to ignore this verse but no matter how I look at it - the bible just called
me stupid. It is no secret that I don’t
love discipline - and I usually hate it
when I am rebuked.
So,
what should I do now?... My natural reaction to being called stupid, is to call
the accuser stupid, and argue with them… (intelligent response, right?)… or I can
ignore them and assume they don’t know what they’re talking about. However,
neither of those paths are open to me when it is scripture that implies my lack
of intellect.
So, the only reasonable
response to this, is for me to decide to stop being stupid…I need to contemplate
this verse until I find a way to love discipline and stop hating it when I am corrected.
There is a way to get there if
I will appreciate the effects that discipline has produced in my life. The only
way to welcome rebukes is if I consider the improvements I have seen when I
have heeded them.
But there is a huge hurdle that
I must overcome ….Pride.
Pride is the ridiculous notion
that I know it all…That I don’t need a press box coach who can help me see
things from different vantage points. Pride would argue that those close to me
cannot see flaws that I have overlooked, and that I don’t need their input.
What protects my pride is a
lack of confidence in myself that makes me instantly defensive when I am
questioned.
If I will simply remember that
I have grown in the past when people have pointed out things I needed to change
– It will accelerate my progress in the future.
Do I really want to be wise …
or do I just want people to think I’m wise? That is what it boils down to… Only
humility and confidence will allow me to appreciate constructive criticism. That
is the only way my reaction to reprimands can become thoughtful consideration –
instead of knee-jerk argumentativeness. To gain wisdom, I must admit that I still
have things to learn.
Of course, there is always plan
B - I could just keep being stupid… I
guess the choice is up to me.
“Life is tough, but it's
tougher if you're stupid.” – John Wayne
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