Proverbs 12
"The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice" (v.15)
This is a verse that jumped out at me above the rest as it again deals with confrontation and advice. We all have been confronted by someone either letting us know what we're doing wrong or giving us some advice. However, there are to different reactions to this situation as Solomon lays out for us. A fool thinks he is right in his own eyes even if he is told otherwise, whereas a wise man listens to advice and adjusts his lifestyle accordingly. The reason a fool thinks he is right even when told otherwise is because of too much pride. He is not able to admit to himself or others that he is wrong and another person is right. This can lead us astray if we are never able to humble ourselves enough to seek others advice and listen to their council. When we get told we are doing something wrong and do not listen to that then we begin to block out such advice and continue to live as we were. This can lead to becoming calloused in this area as we will never be able to admit we are wrong. However, a wise man will listen to what others have to say, filter it through God's Word and adjust accordingly. You must first lower in order to go higher. You must humble yourself before those who are more mature in their faith and learn from them. Only then once you have learned will you be able to teach.
If you only remember two things from this let it be:
"a wise man will listen to what others have to say, filter it through God's Word and adjust accordingly"
"You must first lower in order to go higher... only then once you have learned will you be able to teach"
Have a great spring break everyone!
_
Friday, March 12, 2010
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Walk Humbly
Proverbs 11
"When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom" (v.2)
This verse brings about a very interesting and challenging point when it comes to pride and humility. What is pride? Pride is a deep feeling of pleasure of one's own accomplishments. This is not what we would instinctively think. In fact we many of us would define pride as boasting and putting all attention on yourself. This is not wrong but there is so much more to pride then public boasting. Solomon is saying that when we seek pleasure in our own accomplishments we ignore God and how his power is the root of all success. When we focus on ourselves and what we can do we will be disgraced. However, with the humble comes wisdom. This Hebrew word is only used here and in Micah 6:8, it means to "walk humbly." What this looks like in the context of this verse is to walk in a submissive, modest spirit before both God and man. This leads is leads to and is accompanied by wisdom. So this week focus on walking humbly before both God and man, not under your own power and strength, but God's.
_
"When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom" (v.2)
This verse brings about a very interesting and challenging point when it comes to pride and humility. What is pride? Pride is a deep feeling of pleasure of one's own accomplishments. This is not what we would instinctively think. In fact we many of us would define pride as boasting and putting all attention on yourself. This is not wrong but there is so much more to pride then public boasting. Solomon is saying that when we seek pleasure in our own accomplishments we ignore God and how his power is the root of all success. When we focus on ourselves and what we can do we will be disgraced. However, with the humble comes wisdom. This Hebrew word is only used here and in Micah 6:8, it means to "walk humbly." What this looks like in the context of this verse is to walk in a submissive, modest spirit before both God and man. This leads is leads to and is accompanied by wisdom. So this week focus on walking humbly before both God and man, not under your own power and strength, but God's.
_
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Integrity Brings Forth Security
Proverbs 10
"Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out" (v. 9)
Of the many things that we can take away from this chapter this verse stood out to me. When we as Christians walk in the way of integrity we are living the way we claim we live. Meaning that when we are alone we are still living the same way we do when others are around. We put up no fronts or are concerned about impressing others because we live as we claim to. However, those who make their ways crooked will be found out. Meaning those who wrongly when they think know one knows will eventually be found out for God is always watching and He is the judge. When we claim that we live by the Bible we ought to be doing exactly that, bring in the Word and applying it to our daily lives, living it out. When we say one thing yet do another it makes us a hypocrite which is the biggest turn off for unbelievers. When you walk in integrity you in the security of God's Word.
_
"Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out" (v. 9)
Of the many things that we can take away from this chapter this verse stood out to me. When we as Christians walk in the way of integrity we are living the way we claim we live. Meaning that when we are alone we are still living the same way we do when others are around. We put up no fronts or are concerned about impressing others because we live as we claim to. However, those who make their ways crooked will be found out. Meaning those who wrongly when they think know one knows will eventually be found out for God is always watching and He is the judge. When we claim that we live by the Bible we ought to be doing exactly that, bring in the Word and applying it to our daily lives, living it out. When we say one thing yet do another it makes us a hypocrite which is the biggest turn off for unbelievers. When you walk in integrity you in the security of God's Word.
_
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
The Fear of The LORD... Part II (followup from ch.1)
Proverbs 9
"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight" (v. 10).
Many people confuse this verse with verse seven in chapter one. There are only two differences, one obvious the other not so much. In chapter one the fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, whereas in chapter nine the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. The second difference is found in the word "beginning." Although this is the same english word used in each verse it is not the same Greek word. This means that each use of "beginning" has a different meaning. In chapter one the Greek can be translated "to start," meaning the fearing God is the starting point for true knowledge of God. In chapter nine the Greek word can be translated as "prerequisite." This means that fearing God is a prerequisite for wisdom. There is a huge difference now between these two verses and it is now easier to see why they have been placed where they are. Solomon beings the book of Proverbs saying in verse seven that in order to have a true knowledge of God and who He is you must first start with fearing the LORD. Then over the next eight chapters Solomon begins to talk about what wisdom is and its values. Now in chapter nine he says that in order to have wisdom you must first fear the LORD, meaning that a fear of the LORD is a prerequisite for wisdom. Now that Solomon has establish that fearing God is required for both knowledge of who God is and for wisdom he will spend the rest of the book giving us words of wisdom and instruction.
(refer back to last monday for what it means to fear the LORD).
Fear God.
_
"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight" (v. 10).
Many people confuse this verse with verse seven in chapter one. There are only two differences, one obvious the other not so much. In chapter one the fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, whereas in chapter nine the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. The second difference is found in the word "beginning." Although this is the same english word used in each verse it is not the same Greek word. This means that each use of "beginning" has a different meaning. In chapter one the Greek can be translated "to start," meaning the fearing God is the starting point for true knowledge of God. In chapter nine the Greek word can be translated as "prerequisite." This means that fearing God is a prerequisite for wisdom. There is a huge difference now between these two verses and it is now easier to see why they have been placed where they are. Solomon beings the book of Proverbs saying in verse seven that in order to have a true knowledge of God and who He is you must first start with fearing the LORD. Then over the next eight chapters Solomon begins to talk about what wisdom is and its values. Now in chapter nine he says that in order to have wisdom you must first fear the LORD, meaning that a fear of the LORD is a prerequisite for wisdom. Now that Solomon has establish that fearing God is required for both knowledge of who God is and for wisdom he will spend the rest of the book giving us words of wisdom and instruction.
(refer back to last monday for what it means to fear the LORD).
Fear God.
_
Monday, March 8, 2010
Seek Out Wisdom
Proverbs 8
This chapter discusses the call, virtues, rewards, promises of wisdom as well as its existence before creation. Solomon, speaking of wisdom writes, "I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me" (v. 17). Wisdom is not limited to only certain people, for anyone can obtain wisdom. However, it will only come to those who diligently seek it out. For those who dwell on the Word of God will have it impact them daily as will wisdom. Seek out wisdom and you will find it. Solomon also writes the wisdom is "better than gold, even fine gold" (v. 19a). Wisdom in itself is more profitable than even the finest gold. What lasting significance does gold have? Whereas wisdom will outlast even your own life. Wisdom will guide and protect you. Gold is a safety net, but only for material things. Wisdom will help guide you physically and spiritually.
Seek after wisdom.
_
This chapter discusses the call, virtues, rewards, promises of wisdom as well as its existence before creation. Solomon, speaking of wisdom writes, "I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me" (v. 17). Wisdom is not limited to only certain people, for anyone can obtain wisdom. However, it will only come to those who diligently seek it out. For those who dwell on the Word of God will have it impact them daily as will wisdom. Seek out wisdom and you will find it. Solomon also writes the wisdom is "better than gold, even fine gold" (v. 19a). Wisdom in itself is more profitable than even the finest gold. What lasting significance does gold have? Whereas wisdom will outlast even your own life. Wisdom will guide and protect you. Gold is a safety net, but only for material things. Wisdom will help guide you physically and spiritually.
Seek after wisdom.
_
Sunday, March 7, 2010
RUN!
Proverbs 7
This is the third chapter Solomon has written dealing with adultery. Solomon was one of the wisest men devoted more time to this topic then any other in the book of Proverbs. This is the only sin that we are not asked to fight against. We are called to run! Paul writes to the Corinthian church, "flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body" (1Cor. 6:18). Any sexual immorality no matter the level of severity is destructive to the their own body. We are not supposed to, able or called to fight against this because we cannot. We are told to flee. If you learn on thing from the past three chapters let it be to run whenever you are confronted that with anything that confronts your sexual integrity. Even if it is a simple as a movie that causes you to lust. RUN! Even a man after God's own heart, David, fell into this trap. He did not run. At a time when he was supposed to on the battle field he was confidently at home when we spotted a woman bathing. He did not run and not only did it lead to adultery, but also murder. Flee from sexual immorality!
_
This is the third chapter Solomon has written dealing with adultery. Solomon was one of the wisest men devoted more time to this topic then any other in the book of Proverbs. This is the only sin that we are not asked to fight against. We are called to run! Paul writes to the Corinthian church, "flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body" (1Cor. 6:18). Any sexual immorality no matter the level of severity is destructive to the their own body. We are not supposed to, able or called to fight against this because we cannot. We are told to flee. If you learn on thing from the past three chapters let it be to run whenever you are confronted that with anything that confronts your sexual integrity. Even if it is a simple as a movie that causes you to lust. RUN! Even a man after God's own heart, David, fell into this trap. He did not run. At a time when he was supposed to on the battle field he was confidently at home when we spotted a woman bathing. He did not run and not only did it lead to adultery, but also murder. Flee from sexual immorality!
_
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Don't Get Burned
Proverbs 6
This is the verse that jumped out at me today: "Can a man carry fire next to his chest and his clothes not be burned? Or can one walk on hot coals and his feet not be scorched? So is he who goes in to his neighbor's wife; none who touches her will go unpunished." v. 27-29
This verse applies to what we were talking about yesterday, but the principle applies to all sin and the principle is something that we can be applying daily in every confrontation with temptation. Solomon illustrates this first with a man carrying fire next to his chest. Solomon's literal image of carrying fire next to one chest is representing carrying sin next to ones heart. No one can do so without being burned. If we let any sin get close to our heart we will not go unburned. For the things we hold close to our heart are the things that begin to affect how we live. This is why if we hold God's Word close to our heart and treasure it then it will begin to affect the way we live and the same with sin and things of this world. Solomon draws the same illustration with a man walking over hot coals. This can represent the lifestyle in which we walk. We cannot walk in the ways sin without it burning us. However, even though we can draw a principle from this Solomon does still relate this to one specific sin which is adultery. If you play with fire (sex outside of God's Law) you will get burned!
Remember: If we let any sin get close to our heart we will not go unburned
_
This is the verse that jumped out at me today: "Can a man carry fire next to his chest and his clothes not be burned? Or can one walk on hot coals and his feet not be scorched? So is he who goes in to his neighbor's wife; none who touches her will go unpunished." v. 27-29
This verse applies to what we were talking about yesterday, but the principle applies to all sin and the principle is something that we can be applying daily in every confrontation with temptation. Solomon illustrates this first with a man carrying fire next to his chest. Solomon's literal image of carrying fire next to one chest is representing carrying sin next to ones heart. No one can do so without being burned. If we let any sin get close to our heart we will not go unburned. For the things we hold close to our heart are the things that begin to affect how we live. This is why if we hold God's Word close to our heart and treasure it then it will begin to affect the way we live and the same with sin and things of this world. Solomon draws the same illustration with a man walking over hot coals. This can represent the lifestyle in which we walk. We cannot walk in the ways sin without it burning us. However, even though we can draw a principle from this Solomon does still relate this to one specific sin which is adultery. If you play with fire (sex outside of God's Law) you will get burned!
Remember: If we let any sin get close to our heart we will not go unburned
_
Friday, March 5, 2010
Satan's Worm and Bobber
Proverbs 5
Looking at verses three and four: "For the lips of a forbidden woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil, but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword."
Solomon spends this entire chapter writing a warning against adultery. The words of a forbidden woman are deceptive and persuasive, yet they are a sweet as honey. Married or not all men are under the attack of Satan in the area of sexual immorality. The entire world screams sex mainly at men, but women also. Satan has taken something that God designed to be beautiful and distorted it to cause destruction. When we take what God intended for the ultimate intimacy between and man and his wife and use it for selfish lust we fall into the trap of Satan. Solomon is not just dealing with sex outside of marriage, he is talking about all levels of lust. For Matthew 5:28 says, "but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart." By Gods standard even looking at a woman with lust is adultery whether or not she is real, on a screen or a highway billboard. The lips of these women drip with honey and her speech is smoother than oil, meaning that she is very appealing at first. However, as Solomon continues he warns us that in the end she is as bitter as "wormwood" and as sharp as a "two-edged sword!" Satan intends to destroy us so he opposes what God says knowing it will harm us. In order for Satan to convince us to oppose God he must lure us in by making it look really tempting. It is important that we all (including women) are guarding ourselves against these temptations, we know that Satan will attack and we know generally how, yet everyone still continues to stumble at some point. Keep your head up and hold fast to the Word of God. Victory will only come with discipline. Verse twenty-three says, " he dies for lack of discipline, and because of his great folly he is led astray." Without discipline knowing how to avoid Satan's trap is useless. We need to discipline ourselves to honor and uphold God design for marriage.
Hold fast to God's Word and discipline yourself.
_
Looking at verses three and four: "For the lips of a forbidden woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil, but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword."
Solomon spends this entire chapter writing a warning against adultery. The words of a forbidden woman are deceptive and persuasive, yet they are a sweet as honey. Married or not all men are under the attack of Satan in the area of sexual immorality. The entire world screams sex mainly at men, but women also. Satan has taken something that God designed to be beautiful and distorted it to cause destruction. When we take what God intended for the ultimate intimacy between and man and his wife and use it for selfish lust we fall into the trap of Satan. Solomon is not just dealing with sex outside of marriage, he is talking about all levels of lust. For Matthew 5:28 says, "but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart." By Gods standard even looking at a woman with lust is adultery whether or not she is real, on a screen or a highway billboard. The lips of these women drip with honey and her speech is smoother than oil, meaning that she is very appealing at first. However, as Solomon continues he warns us that in the end she is as bitter as "wormwood" and as sharp as a "two-edged sword!" Satan intends to destroy us so he opposes what God says knowing it will harm us. In order for Satan to convince us to oppose God he must lure us in by making it look really tempting. It is important that we all (including women) are guarding ourselves against these temptations, we know that Satan will attack and we know generally how, yet everyone still continues to stumble at some point. Keep your head up and hold fast to the Word of God. Victory will only come with discipline. Verse twenty-three says, " he dies for lack of discipline, and because of his great folly he is led astray." Without discipline knowing how to avoid Satan's trap is useless. We need to discipline ourselves to honor and uphold God design for marriage.
Hold fast to God's Word and discipline yourself.
_
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Thursday: Straight Ahead
Proverbs 4
What stood out to me as I read this chapter is found in the final three verses. Solomon writes, "Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil" (4:25-27).
One of the first things I learned when I first got my drivers license was where you look is where you go. Naturally when a young driver first beings driving he or she will be driving down the road, as they begin to look at the passing scenery, stores or anything that catches their eye the car will slowly veer toward the shoulder in the direction they are looking. It is very difficult to drive straight if you are looking elsewhere. This is the same with our spiritual walk. We are able to stay on the path God has for our lives, but the moment we are distracted by what the world has to offer we begin to veer away from God's will and eventually if we don't catch ourselves we can veer into oncoming traffic or into a ditch, which spiritually is exactly where Satan wants us. Verses 26 and 27 instruct us to ponder the path of our feet, to think about the direction in which we are headed to be sure that we are walking in God's will. He also instructs us not to let our foot swerve to the left or to the right so that we may turn away from evil. We are to daily be checking to be sure that we are walking in the light of God's Word and not being distracted and caught up in the ways of Satan and the world around us. For he is trying to destroy us by leading us astray. Whereas God intends good for our lives. Out of this knowledge we are to be sure that we are following God and the moment we take our eyes off of Him we will being to veer away from His path. Keep your eyes on Him and never look down, never look back to what the world pretends to offer.
walk in the Word.
_
What stood out to me as I read this chapter is found in the final three verses. Solomon writes, "Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil" (4:25-27).
One of the first things I learned when I first got my drivers license was where you look is where you go. Naturally when a young driver first beings driving he or she will be driving down the road, as they begin to look at the passing scenery, stores or anything that catches their eye the car will slowly veer toward the shoulder in the direction they are looking. It is very difficult to drive straight if you are looking elsewhere. This is the same with our spiritual walk. We are able to stay on the path God has for our lives, but the moment we are distracted by what the world has to offer we begin to veer away from God's will and eventually if we don't catch ourselves we can veer into oncoming traffic or into a ditch, which spiritually is exactly where Satan wants us. Verses 26 and 27 instruct us to ponder the path of our feet, to think about the direction in which we are headed to be sure that we are walking in God's will. He also instructs us not to let our foot swerve to the left or to the right so that we may turn away from evil. We are to daily be checking to be sure that we are walking in the light of God's Word and not being distracted and caught up in the ways of Satan and the world around us. For he is trying to destroy us by leading us astray. Whereas God intends good for our lives. Out of this knowledge we are to be sure that we are following God and the moment we take our eyes off of Him we will being to veer away from His path. Keep your eyes on Him and never look down, never look back to what the world pretends to offer.
walk in the Word.
_
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Wednesday: All You Need Is...... God
Proverbs 3
This chapter, as do all chapters in Proverbs, has a lot of points in it, but I am only going to point out the one that stood out to me as I read it through this time. This is also the chapter that contains a very commonly used and well known verse, rightly so. Verses 5 and 6 are the verses that many people turn to in a time where they are seeking direction as it tells us to commit to God and acknowledge in all we do first, then He will direct us. This principle is paralleled in verses 9 and 10 where it says, "honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all you produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine. This verse calls us to honor God with our wealth. Ironically it is not even our wealth in the first place because God is the one who has blessed us in the first place. To honor God with our wealth would be to hold nothing back from Him. It continues to also say honor God with the firstfruits of all you produce. Not only are we to hold nothing back to God but we are to offer our produce to Him first. We are to give unto God first, then budget. Not budget then give God what is left. This doesn't just deal with money, but also with our time, talents, everything. To honor God with our wealth and our firstfruits is to acknowledge His provision over us in an expression of gratitude. In return God has promised to fill our barns and vats. Metaphorically speaking of course, Solomon is saying that God will continue to supply all we need. If we give to God FIRST (yes that means our very best), then He will continue to bless us. For by trusting Him with all we have including our finances He will continue to watch over us. The moment we stop trusting God and think that we can supply for ourselves He will no longer bless us because we do not seek Him in our needs.
God is not an investment, He is all we need!
_
This chapter, as do all chapters in Proverbs, has a lot of points in it, but I am only going to point out the one that stood out to me as I read it through this time. This is also the chapter that contains a very commonly used and well known verse, rightly so. Verses 5 and 6 are the verses that many people turn to in a time where they are seeking direction as it tells us to commit to God and acknowledge in all we do first, then He will direct us. This principle is paralleled in verses 9 and 10 where it says, "honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all you produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine. This verse calls us to honor God with our wealth. Ironically it is not even our wealth in the first place because God is the one who has blessed us in the first place. To honor God with our wealth would be to hold nothing back from Him. It continues to also say honor God with the firstfruits of all you produce. Not only are we to hold nothing back to God but we are to offer our produce to Him first. We are to give unto God first, then budget. Not budget then give God what is left. This doesn't just deal with money, but also with our time, talents, everything. To honor God with our wealth and our firstfruits is to acknowledge His provision over us in an expression of gratitude. In return God has promised to fill our barns and vats. Metaphorically speaking of course, Solomon is saying that God will continue to supply all we need. If we give to God FIRST (yes that means our very best), then He will continue to bless us. For by trusting Him with all we have including our finances He will continue to watch over us. The moment we stop trusting God and think that we can supply for ourselves He will no longer bless us because we do not seek Him in our needs.
God is not an investment, He is all we need!
_
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Tuesday: What is Wisdom
Proverbs 2
Seek after wisdom and let it guard your heart
_
Monday, March 1, 2010
Monday: The Fear of The LORD...
Over the month of March we will be going through the book of Proverbs as there is 31 chapters in Proverbs and 31 days in March. My hope is that as you read along you will be able to easily dive into each days devotion. Feel free to leave comments on what you have learned each day even if it is from a different area of the chapter.
Enjoy!
"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction." Proverbs 1:7
This is a very fitting way for Solomon to begin the book of Proverbs. "The fear of the LORD" occurs 11 eleven times in Proverbs. It is also important that we understand what is meant be the word "beginning"here. What does it mean for the fear of the LORD to be the beginning of knowledge? The Hebrew word for beginning is rê'shyth meaning "the start." What this means is that a person cannot gain knowledge of spiritual things if they do not start at the right place. Solomon says that the starting place for knowledge is fearing the God. To fear God means to recognize His character and responding in reverence, worship, obedience, trust and service. Fearing God is recognizing who He is a responding accordingly. Fearing God is the very essence of true knowledge as knowledge apart from God is foolishness. As we begin a campus wide dive into Proverbs throughout March we ought begin with fearing God if we hope to gain anything else from this book!
The second part of verse 7 contrasts the first. It says that "fools despise wisdom and instruction." What this means is that when a person corrects you or instructs you it is foolish not to listen or accept the instruction. If someone tells you that you are proud and arrogant then it would be foolish not to accept the criticism because to accept it would be to change accordingly resulting in improving your character. Solomon warns us not to despise wisdom or instruction because to do so is foolish, someone who cannot receive instruction does not believe they need instruction meaning that they think they have it all together which ultimately leads to not trusting God because you do not feel the need to.
Remember: To fear God means to recognize His character and responding in reverence, worship, obedience, trust and service.
_
Enjoy!
"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction." Proverbs 1:7
This is a very fitting way for Solomon to begin the book of Proverbs. "The fear of the LORD" occurs 11 eleven times in Proverbs. It is also important that we understand what is meant be the word "beginning"here. What does it mean for the fear of the LORD to be the beginning of knowledge? The Hebrew word for beginning is rê'shyth meaning "the start." What this means is that a person cannot gain knowledge of spiritual things if they do not start at the right place. Solomon says that the starting place for knowledge is fearing the God. To fear God means to recognize His character and responding in reverence, worship, obedience, trust and service. Fearing God is recognizing who He is a responding accordingly. Fearing God is the very essence of true knowledge as knowledge apart from God is foolishness. As we begin a campus wide dive into Proverbs throughout March we ought begin with fearing God if we hope to gain anything else from this book!
The second part of verse 7 contrasts the first. It says that "fools despise wisdom and instruction." What this means is that when a person corrects you or instructs you it is foolish not to listen or accept the instruction. If someone tells you that you are proud and arrogant then it would be foolish not to accept the criticism because to accept it would be to change accordingly resulting in improving your character. Solomon warns us not to despise wisdom or instruction because to do so is foolish, someone who cannot receive instruction does not believe they need instruction meaning that they think they have it all together which ultimately leads to not trusting God because you do not feel the need to.
Remember: To fear God means to recognize His character and responding in reverence, worship, obedience, trust and service.
_
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