What does "despises instruction" reveal about one's attitude toward God's wisdom? The Focus Verse Proverbs 13:13: “He who despises instruction will pay the penalty, but the one who respects a command is rewarded.” Despising Instruction—What the Word Conveys • “Despises” carries the sense of treating something as trivial, worthless, beneath notice. • “Instruction” (or “discipline”) refers to God-given correction, counsel, and training delivered through His Word, parents, pastors, and life’s providences. → Rejecting instruction is not a neutral mistake; it is active contempt for God’s wisdom, which He has spoken plainly and truthfully. Attitude Exposed • Pride: a self-sufficient spirit that believes it already knows best (Proverbs 26:12). • Rebellion: a refusal to submit to God’s rightful authority (1 Samuel 15:22-23). • Spiritual blindness: disregarding the only source of true knowledge (Proverbs 1:7). • Hardness of heart: resisting the Holy Spirit’s convicting work (Acts 7:51). Consequences of Contempt • Inevitable loss—“will pay the penalty” (Proverbs 13:13). The cost may appear later, but it always comes (Galatians 6:7-8). • Self-harm—“he who ignores discipline despises himself” (Proverbs 15:32). Rejecting God’s wisdom sabotages one’s own soul. • Closed growth path—“Poverty and shame come to him who ignores discipline” (Proverbs 13:18). • Judgment—persistent refusal invites divine displeasure (Jeremiah 6:16-19). The Blessing of Receiving Instruction • Protection—“He who heeds correction is on the path of life” (Proverbs 10:17). • Honor—“but whoever heeds correction is honored” (Proverbs 13:18). • Increased understanding—“whoever heeds correction gains understanding” (Proverbs 15:32). • Reward—“the one who respects a command is rewarded” (Proverbs 13:13). God’s commands are not burdensome; they are life-giving (Psalm 19:7-11; 1 John 5:3). How to Nurture a Teachable Spirit • Fear the Lord first (Proverbs 1:7); reverence for Him makes room for His voice. • Keep the Word open—regular reading invites daily course corrections (Psalm 119:105). • Invite accountability—wise friends and mentors sharpen us (Proverbs 27:17). • Respond quickly—act on conviction before the heart hardens (James 1:22). • Yield to the Spirit—He uses Scripture to train, reprove, correct, and equip (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Despising instruction exposes a heart closed to God’s wisdom, while embracing it reveals humility, reverence, and a readiness to walk in the life-giving paths the Lord has plainly and faithfully set before us. |
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