Jun 27 • Wisdom
Welcoming Reproof
‘He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.’ Proverbs 15:32
This verse lays bare the consequences of how we respond to correction. To reject instruction is not merely to dismiss advice—it is to harm oneself. Scripture makes clear that when someone turns away from godly counsel or rebuke, they are acting against their own best interest. They are not just rejecting others—they are despising their own soul, because they are cutting themselves off from the path that leads to life, wisdom, and blessing.
This idea is reinforced in Proverbs 8:36, where wisdom speaks and says, “But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.” Rejecting wisdom and instruction doesn’t just result in poor decisions—it’s a form of self-destruction. God has designed us to grow through correction. Whether that correction comes through His Word, His Spirit, or even through others, it is a gift meant to sharpen and sanctify us. When we refuse it, we choose pride over growth, and death over life.
In contrast, “he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.” To hear reproof means more than just listening—it means receiving, accepting, and responding to correction with humility. Proverbs 10:17 says, “He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth.” Receiving correction is the way to deeper insight, greater wisdom, and closer fellowship with God. It's the posture of the wise, the teachable, and the God-fearing.
The practical application of this verse is deeply personal. How do we react when someone points out a flaw, a sin, or a blind spot? Do we become defensive, angry, or dismissive? Or do we take it to the Lord in prayer and ask whether He is speaking to us through it? Proverbs 12:1 puts it bluntly: “Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish.” To despise correction is to act like an animal without reason. But to love it—even when it's hard—is to walk the path of understanding.
Ultimately, Proverbs 15:32 teaches that our response to correction reveals our attitude toward our own soul. If we value our spiritual health, our growth, and our relationship with God, we will welcome reproof. Not because it feels good, but because it draws us closer to the truth, humbles our hearts, and shapes us into the likeness of Christ. In correction, there is mercy. In reproof, there is life. And in hearing it with a willing heart, there is understanding that leads to lasting wisdom.
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