Tuesday, 12 May 2020

Proverbs 12.1
Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish. (KJV)
Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid. (ESV )
To learn, you must love discipline; it is stupid to hate correction. (NLT)

Proverbs 12:1 means “He who loves discipline, instruction, reproof, and correction is also one who loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof, rebuke, and chastening is stupid.“

For learning to take place one must be teachable. Teachability is an attitude which can only be cultivated through humility. A progressive learner always is ready to be corrected by his teacher or his mentor. The inability to admit error and confess mistakes means we hate knowledge because we don’t accept discipline. Knowledge will grow if you love discipline, instruction and correction.

Those who are too proud to be corrected, Wisdom says, we are brutish or stupid. Albert Barnes, in his commentary of this verse, said, “Dumb as a brute beast. The difference between man and brute lies chiefly in the capacity of the former for progress and improvement, and that capacity depends upon his willingness to submit to discipline and education.” Those who hate correction is plain stupid, not ignorant but stupid. There is a difference between ignorance and stupidity. Ignorance is due to a lack of information or instruction. Stupid in this context is the deliberate rejection of instruction or information. If we continue to be stubborn and refuse to be corrected, we will slip down to a path of pride until we finally get into a position which is irreversible. We are all children of God, we are still kids under construction. If we fail to welcome criticism and correction, we will never be able to become the people God desires for us to be.

As we ponder over this verse, we must admit that we are only human and imperfect in many areas of our lives. We are not always right, we don’t know it all, and we must resist the prideful impulses to believe that we do. We need to ask God to humble ourselves to be able to “esteem others better than ourselves.” Learning doesn’t stop with age. Learn to love discipline and submit ourselves to the process of life-long learning in the fear of God. It is never too late to make the change that changes everything! Let God continue to do new things in our lives each day.
Few things bothering me as I observe our interaction with each other as members of a family and members of the church. There are many unresolved problems with the relationship that were directly related to giving correction or criticism and receiving of correction or criticism.

Those of us who are giving correction or criticism, we need to check our motives and our attitudes. Parents I appeal to you that your children though are very secure in your love for them, still you must avoid harsh correction or criticism. The intention of correction is always to bring the person back to the right path. Correction is not scolding or nagging. It is loving and guiding and literally hold their hands to lead them back. Prayer, love and patience will bring far better results than otherwise.

What about in the church? How do we wisely give correction and criticism? Don’t try to correct or criticize if we don’t love the person. It will not work. We must first earn the right to correct and criticize. On a person to person level, correction or criticism is best done in private. Unless it involves others. If it is just in the care group, it is best to be kept at that level, if it concerns the entire church, then it has to be at that level. We must keep in mind the purpose is always to build up never to embarrass or to put down someone. It is always done in love with a genuine desire to help a brother or sister to grow in the Lord.

What about how we receive correction. It is not always pleasant to be corrected or criticised. Let us not react, nor be defensive, or be angry but listen with humility which is very hard but necessary. Then evaluate what is being said. If it is true, we must correct ourselves and thank the person for pointing it out to you. If not, talk to the person who directed the criticism or correction, to understand why or even explain why.

Most of all, ask God for grace to forgive and not harbour anger and hatred in your heart.

Prayer for today

Father in heaven, we thank you for You are our All Wise God. We are ever grateful for the Holy Spirit who leads us into the truth. We thank you for Your Living Word, that we feed on each day. May Your Word be like a mirror. Help us to take some moments to reflect on your Word, may we be quiet to allow the Holy Spirit to reveal to us what you are saying today.

Father, grant us the discipline and humility to submit to a daily routine of personal development. Lord, train us to be both students and teachers at the same time. We thank you for providing us with loving parents, teachers in the church, in school and in places where we work. Grant us a humble attitude to learn from others, so that we can share with others what we have learned.

Lord, we ask for wisdom and love to teach and correct our children or students under our care. As students, give us the humility to listen and learn from others. May there be mutual respect between both teachers and students. Help us always to be able to create exciting teaching and learning moments whenever you give us the opportunity.

Father, we confess at the time, we have been harsh and unreasonable. What we said was sharp and unkind. O Lord, help us that we will always speak words of encouragement that will build others up. May our words always be seasoned with grace and love.

Lord, remind us that we still have a long way to go. Teach us to have a humble spirit to accept Your discipline and instruction so that we can become the person you desire us to be.

Speak Lord, your servant heareth! In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Pastor Isaac Yim

xxx

每日灵粮
12/5/20
作者：严以撒牧师
箴言12：1

喜爱管教的，就是喜爱知识；恨恶责备的，却是畜类。
箴言12：1的意思是：一个爱纪律、指示、管教和改正的人也是一个爱知识的人，但一个讨厌受管教和责备的人是愚蠢的。

一个人要学习，就当愿意受教。只有谦卑自己才能产生可受教的态度。一个有进取心的学者总是准备好自己受老师的改正。我们若无法承认错误就意味着我们讨厌知识，因为我们不接受管教。喜爱管教、指导和纠正，就能使知识增长。

智慧称那些自傲不纠正的人为愚蠢或畜类。以下是Albert Barnes给这段经文的解释：“如同野兽愚蠢。人与畜类的区别主要在于人对于进步和改进方面的能力，而这能力取决于他愿意服从管教和教育”。讨厌改正的人不是无知，而是愚蠢。无知和愚蠢有所区别。无知是缺乏信息或指示。在此，愚蠢是故意拒绝指示或信息。如果我们继续固执己见，拒绝改正，我们将跌入骄傲之路，直到最终进入不可逆转的地步。我们都是上帝的孩子，我们仍在成长过程中。如果我们不迎接批评和指正，我们将永远无法成为上帝希望我们成为的人。

当我们默想这段节经文时，我们必须承认我们是人，在我们生活的许多领域中都不完全。我们不在一切决定上都对，我们也不是无所不知，我们必须抵制骄傲的冲动，承认自己不完全。我们需要求上帝谦卑我们，是我们能够“看别人比自己强”。学习不限于年龄。学会喜爱管教纪律，把自己委身于终生学习敬畏上帝。我们还来得及做一个改变一切的改变！让上帝在我们生命中不断有新的成就。

当我观察到我们作为家庭成员和教会成员彼此之间的互动时，有一些事情困扰着我。关系中有许多未解决的问题，这些问题直接与给予和接受纠正或批评有关。

我们当中那些提出纠正或批评的人，我们需要检查我们的动机和态度。父母们，我呼吁你们，尽管您的孩子对您的爱心非常坚定，您仍要避免严厉的纠正或批评。纠正的目的必须使人回到正确的道路上。纠正不是责骂或唠叨。纠正时必须充满爱心，牵着他们的手引导他们回正路。祷告、爱心和忍耐会比其他方式带来更好的果效。

在教会里呢？我们如何有智慧地给予纠正和批评？不要尝试纠正或批评一个我们不爱的人，这不会起作用。我们首先必须获得纠正和批评的权利。在人与人层面上的批评，最佳为私下纠正或批评，除非涉及别人。如果发生在小组中，尽可能保持在小组内；如果涉及整个教会，就将在教会的层次解决。我们必须牢记，批评的目的永远是建立他人，不是使人尴尬或受到压制。批评总要以真诚的心，帮助弟兄姐妹在主里成长。

那么当我们被纠正时该如何？被别人纠正或批评不是一个愉快的事。让我们不要感到反感，也不要生气，而要谦卑地倾听，这是一件非常困难而必要的。我们必须先听，后评估批评内容。如果对方是对的，我们必须纠正自己，并感谢对方指出我们的短处。如果对方错了，我们应该于对方沟通，以了解批评的原因。

最重要的是祈求上帝赐予我们恩典宽恕别人，不要叫我们在心中存放愤怒和仇恨。

今天的祷告

我们在天上的父，我们感谢祢因为祢无所不知。我们感谢圣灵带领我们进入真理。我们感谢祢每天提供我们生命灵粮。愿祢的话像镜子一样。求主帮助我们花一些时间来默想祢的话语，我们安静让圣灵光照祢今天对我们说的话。

天父，赐给我们纪律和谦卑，愿意每日提高自己。主啊，训练我们同时成为学生和老师。感谢祢为我们预备了充满爱心的父母、教会、学校和我们工作场所。赐我们谦卑的态度向他人学习，以便我们能与他人分享所学的。

主啊，我们要求智慧和爱来教养我们所照顾的孩子和学生们。作为学生，求祢给我们谦卑的心，倾听他人的意见并向他人学习。希望老师和学生之间相互尊重。求主常常给我们机会学习并教导他人。

天父，我们承认有时候很苛刻、很不合理。我们的言语没有爱心，伤害了他人。主啊，求祢帮助我们常常说鼓励人的话。愿我们的话语总是充满恩典和爱。

主啊，提醒我们，我们还有很长的路要走。教导我们要以谦卑的心接受祢的管教和指示，好让我们能够成为祢愿我们成为的人。

主啊请说，仆人敬听！奉主名求。阿门。

杨仕涵译