The Ear that Heareth Reproof

Proverbs 15:31

The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise.

Twice in Proverbs 15, we see God talks about the ear hearing reproof. In the verse above, God said that the ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise. God says in the next verse, he that heareth reproof getteth understanding. You will notice that wisdom and understanding come from hearing reproof. Now, what is reproof? Reproof is being reprimanded or corrected for doing wrong. Reproof is being rebuked or receiving criticism for something we did wrong. As unfavorable as reproof is, we cannot gain wisdom, nor can we have understanding, unless we are willing to hear reproof.

Reproof is a part of life that everyone must be willing to accept if they want to succeed in life. Life has a way of reproving us when we do wrong. For instance, the person who is unwise with their finances will be reproved when they have nothing left and lose everything. Likewise, we find that life often reproves those who ignore the lessons they learned from others. It is that person who thinks they are the exception to the rule who finds out that they are not the exception when life reproves them, and when they find themselves at the same destination that others came to who ignored reproof. We could provide numerous examples of life reproving people, and each one would ultimately lead to the same conclusion: those who ignore reproof are reproved through consequences. Let me share with you a few thoughts about the importance of listening to proof and your attitude towards it.

First, you don't have to like reproof, but you better listen to it. Nowhere does God say that we have to like reproof, but reproof is where we gain lessons for life that keep us from heartache if heeded.

Second, don't get upset at the person reproving you because they love you enough to try to help you avoid the heartache of your actions. You can get upset at the messenger of reproof, or you can learn from them and correct your actions. By correcting your actions, you avoid the heartache that you were creating for yourself by doing the wrong things.

Third, even if the messenger is wrong with how they delivered the reproof, your reaction to the reproof shows your heart toward God. I have often said that when someone reproves in the wrong way, though they did it wrongly, the one who was reproved is revealing their heart by how they respond to it. You can get upset when someone reproves you in a wrong manner, and maybe they disrespected you. But, would you not rather have them reprove you in the wrong way so that you can find the right way than for them not to approve you and let you go down the road toward heartache? I would much rather be reproved from a messenger with a wrong spirit than to be appeased by a kind person who lets me go down the road toward heartache.

Fourth, taking reproof and learning from its lessons is what gives you wisdom to do the right thing and understanding to help you flourish with what you are pursuing. Any person who has found success has been reproved, but they learned from it. Let the reproofs of life be one of your counselors. If you obey the reproofs of life, you will find that it will point you toward the road of success.