How to React to Rebuke

Daily Devotional – Friday, February 10, 2023
Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you. Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.
Proverbs 9:8 (NKJV)

Once after I had ended my sermon to a group of students, a member of the pulpit party (a student himself) mischievously asked how many of the listeners felt blessed. A few hands went up amid murmurs. I realized God had used me to speak an unwelcome message despite the disapproval from my audience.

Do Not Correct a Scoffer

Try this. Wait at the exit of a church after the sermon and ask worshippers what they feel about the sermon. In most cases, if people appear happy, there are two possible reasons: One, the sermon was largely motivational (which is okay). Two, the preacher did not speak against real or perceived sins in the congregation.

Is this a new phenomenon? No. King Solomon addressed the issue millennia ago. He stated, “Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you. Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.” (Proverbs 9:8). What a contrast of attitudes and reactions to the same prompt!

Rebuke a Wise Man

When we acknowledge we are fallible, we become amenable to correction. Instead of condemning the preacher and / or the message, we look inward at ourselves, accept responsibility for our failures and ask God for forgiveness. How we respond to rebuke and correction determines whether we are wise of otherwise.

Paul foresaw a worrying scenario for church in the last days, declaring:
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.” (2 Timothy 4:3-4).

How to React to Rebuke

How sad that instead of accepting responsibility for our sins, we look for preachers who will deliver flattering messages that water down the transforming power of the gospel! God rebukes us because He loves us (Revelation 3:19) and wants to instill His character in us. If we are wise, we will love God back for pointing out our faults.

How do you react to rebuke and correction? Do you acknowledge your wrongs and ask God to forgive you and help you to reform? Do you get angry with God and the people he sends to warn you? Just as you accept praise when you do well, be ready to acknowledge you are wrong when told so.

Prayer
Lord Jesus, help me accept rebuke and correction when I am wrong and cooperate with You as you transform me into Your image.