Proverbs Chapter 9

Proverbs 9:8
“Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.”

In this verse the words "reprove" and "rebuke" are the same word. The basic idea of the word is to convince someone of the wrongfulness of their moral standing, their behavior or their actions and then correct them. Ideally, this act of correction should be coupled with love and concern for the one being rebuked.

Even when the process of correction is dispensed properly there are those who will not take it well. The Bible calls these people foolish or scorners. The fool tends to “hate” the person giving rebuke. He considers the “corrector” as the enemy. On the other hand the wise man readily accepts correction and will love the one correcting him.

Over the course of my life as a restaurant manager, a Marine sergeant, a prison guard and a father of six children, I have had many an occasion to give instruction or reprove those under my charge or care. Over that time I have seen the stark contrast between the rebuke of a wise man and the rebuke of the scorner or fool. I have also been on the receiving end of rebuke and correction. And at times I have played both the “fool” and the “wise”.

When I was in the Marine Corps I traveled to several foreign countries and spent a lot of time in the field for war-training exercises. The strain on my dear wife was tremendous. We had young children whom she was basically raising by herself. When I was home I just wanted to coast, kick back and relax. I figured that if my wife was doing well while I was gone then she would do fine taking care of things while I was home. Great reasoning, huh? To put it plainly… I was being plum stupid!

During that time we were members of a small Baptist church and I remember the Pastor sitting me down one day for a heart-to-heart talk. He saw how my attitude was affecting my family and in no uncertain terms told me it was time to buck up, be a man and to be there for my wife when I was home. It wasn’t easy to hear from another man that I was basically failing in my job as a husband and father. My first instinct was to be a fool and to scorn his instruction. However, by God’s grace I acted wisely and accepted the rebuke. I started taking my “job” as a husband and a father more seriously. The course of my life as a man changed that day.

I urge you to accept rebuke as a wise man not a fool. Accept wise correction and be even wiser. Accept wise teaching and increase your learning. Listen to Wisdom’s call. Walk in Wisdom’s ways. Let Wisdom be your teacher and be blessed!