I’ll be honest.  I don’t.  Not at first.  Happiness is usually not my first inclination when I find myself on the receiving end of a rebuke or criticism.  In fact, I have to consciously tell myself, “Hey, stay calm and be humble.  You might just need to hear this.  In fact, you probably need to hear this.  This can probably help you out, so listen.”

Again, being corrected is not my cup of tea.  I have to remind myself to take it well.  Something tells me I’m not alone in this.

It’s not human nature to like correction.  Think about it.  When was the last time you woke up and said, “Today is going to be a great day, because today’s the day I’m going to ask people if I’m doing anything wrong and how I can be better!” 

We like to think of ourselves as being right.  We don’t like to think of ourselves as being wrong.  We like to think that we have it all figured out, and we don’t like to be reminded that we don’t.

The thing is, we DON’T have it all figured out.  We DO make mistakes, more times than we would like to admit and even more times than we actually recognize.

Yeah, no one likes the nit-pickers and the ones who do nothing but criticize, especially when all they do is criticize you.  However, the ones in your life who thoughtfully and tactfully come up to you from time to time and say, “Hey man, I think you need to consider something…” are probably doing you a big favor.  I know when all is said and done they help me out.

Here’s what God says:

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.  (Proverbs 12:1)

“Discipline” (musar in Hebrew) has to do with giving instruction and correction.  God’s basically saying that if you’re the kind of person who loves being taught and loves being corrected when they are wrong, then you’re the kind of person who loves to learn and grow wiser and smarter.

If you’re not…if you’re the kind of person who just hates being told that they’re wrong…then you’re stupid.  According to God.

Ouch.  That kind of hits home.

Friends, I don’t want God to think I’m stupid.  Do you?

Let’s love knowledge instead.  Let’s work on being humble and open to correction and instruction.  Let’s be wise.