Walking with the Wise #272: Receptive to Rebuke

“A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding

than a hundred blows into a fool.”
—Proverbs 17:10

Inevitably, we will find ourselves in a situation where someone will say we are wrong. It’s never a pleasant thing. It pierces our pride, cuts to the core of who we are, and wounds us in the deepest regions of our soul. Rebukes can shake the foundation of our person, causing us to question who we are. If you have been through it, you know it all too well. It’s extremely painful. None of us likes to hear we are wrong, but for us to grow in our walk with God, a rebuke can be an extremely necessary and valuable tool.

David knew the power of a rebuke. After committing adultery with Bathsheba he was confronted by Nathan the prophet with his sin (2 Samuel 12:1-15). At the moment of rebuke, he was faced with a choice of how to respond. Either he could reject Nathan’s words and make all kinds of excuses, attempting to justify his sinful behavior. Or, he could accept his rebuke, humble himself in repentance, and use it as an opportunity to grow in godliness. The Bible tells us that David chose the latter—and God made sure it was preserved for us to learn from so that we might make the wise choice whenever we are confronted with our own sin (see Psalm 51).

A man of understanding will learn more from a single rebuke than a fool will learn from a hundred lashes on his back. Our job is to be people of understanding, using the rebukes we receive as opportunities to become more like the Lord who bought us. May our ears be attentive, may our hearts be receptive, and may our spirits be willing to do all that is required of us to become more like the Lord of glory—no matter how painful it may be. Amen.