A fool despises his father's instruction, but he who receives
correction is prudent. Proverbs 15:5
A number of years ago I read an interesting article about cancer researcher Dr. Robert
Good. He was described as a hard-driving individual with an enormous faculty for new ideas
and the ability to make use of any information that came to him. I was most impressed,
however, with a statement that credited him with a willingness to recognize an error in
his theories and abandon them faster than anyone else in medical research. An associate
said, "Dr. Good never gets married to his hypotheses, so he doesn't go through the
pangs of divorce when one is proven wrong."
Proverbs 9 puts a high premium on such readiness to see one's error and admit it. It
describes a wise man as one who wants to learn from his mistakes. When challenged, he
resists the urge to get his back up like a threatened tomcat. Instead, correction becomes
a faithful friend and a necessary means to improvement (v.9). On the other hand, when a
"scoffer" is rebuked, he responds with anger and hate (v.8). Because of his
overinflated ego, he won't listen when told he has erred.
We always need to follow the path of wisdom by giving heed to words of reproof. To be
truly wise, we must remember that at times we too have played the fool!
-MRDII
If criticism comes your way,
Welcome its intent;
It may be that some truth from God
Through it is being sent.
-DJD
The one who refuses to hear criticism has no chance to learn from it.