No matter what our age may be, most of us probably do not enjoy being corrected. In fact, one of the hardest things to do is to stop and listen when someone is trying to correct us or our behavior. Many of us have seen this played out time and time again while we were correcting or disciplining our children. Children do not like to be corrected, but, honestly, neither do we.

However, just because we do not like to be corrected does not mean we do not need to be corrected. We all have moments in our lives where we find ourselves saying or doing things that make us look bad and bring shame and reproach upon the church. When such moments happen, we need someone to reach out to us with a gentle and loving hand of correction, not to be the Christian police, but to help us in our walk with God.

The wise man said, “Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid” (Prov. 12:1). Wow, what strong language. Why use such strong language? My guess, because it gets the point across. There are times we need correction in our lives and when those times come, we must stop and listen.

The apostle James wrote, “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath” (Jam. 1:19). Notice he says be “swift to hear” and “slow to speak.” When someone is trying to correct us, our typical response is to start offering excuses. Instead, we need to stop and listen. They just might be saying something we need to hear.

Brothers and sisters, we all are going to find ourselves in need of a gentle hand of correction at some point. When that time comes, how will we respond? Will we offer up a variety of excuses, will we accuse the person trying to correct us of being judgmental, or will we stop and listen to what we are being told?  That correction just might change the course of our eternity.

Now that’s Something to Think About!