Daily Devotional – Wednesday, January 28, 2026
It is better to heed the rebuke of a wise person than to listen to the song of fools.
Proverbs 7:5 (NIV)
One of the hardest things for a parent to do is chastise or correct their child. When a father reprimands or punishes his child, the child cries. Even when the parent says the meanest things, he does it out of love, care, and kindness.
Learning to Value Hard Work
Letting a child do anything they want is the easier option compared to rigorous discipline. The most extreme variant of this approach is to applaud the child for being wrong or irrational. Flattery strokes egos and encourages bad behaviour.
King Solomon was very clear about the available choices, according to our key text. People that care about you will tell you when you are wrong. Fools, on the other hand, write songs that make you feel good, but eventually, they hurt you.
The Love Behind the Rebuke
You need to hear the clear, hurtful truth, just like a child who is acting out. The wise person’s cautions and punishments will hurt our feelings for a short time, but they will save us pain in the long run. On the other hand, being the recipient of flattery will make you happy for a short time but cause you grief for a long time.
Accept correction because it makes you think, talk, and act better. Use criticism to help you grow and progress as a person. Let God’s word guide you. Allow your friends, family, spiritual brothers and sisters, and spiritual leaders to tell you what you need to work on.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, please help me accept criticism instead of praise.
