Though we may not think so, correction is our friend. It is help from another to get us back on the right track. Correction is never enjoyable, but it is good for us. (Hebrews 12:11) “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.”

Correction comes in many forms. It may be a rebuke. It may be a scolding. It may be a command to stop something. It may be a friend saying that you hurt their feelings. It may be a speeding ticket. It may be a look of displeasure. It may be a heart-stabbing conviction from the Holy Spirit. It may be a parent’s discipline. It may be a challenge from a sermon. It may be a personal word of correction from your pastor, your spouse or a friend.

Transition

There are two ways we may respond to correction – we may rebel or we may repent. This evening I want us to study two verses in Proverbs that describe these responses so that we can learn to respond correctly and benefit the most.

There is a wrong way to respond to correction …

We May Rebel (Proverbs 29:1)

1. The response to correction
   1. Solomon is speaking of one who is often reproved.
   2. This person hardens his neck. He stiffens up and refuses to change.
      1. He may get angry.
      2. He may deny guilt.
      3. He may blame others.
      4. He may ignore the facts.
      5. He may refuse to accept help.
      6. He may pout and refuse to talk.
      7. He may pay no attention – The rebuke may be like water running off a duck.
   3. No matter how he responds outwardly, inwardly he refuses to change. He is hardening his neck.
      ☆ When your spouse points out something you need to change, do you bristle and defend yourself? When your parent scolds you for disobeying, do you get angry or pout? When the Holy Spirit convicts you about a sinful habit, do you make excuses, deny guilt, or ignore Him? If these are the ways you respond, you have chosen to rebel and harden your neck.
2. The result
   1. Rebels will suddenly be destroyed. This word literally means to be broken in pieces or to crush like a crushed eggshell.
      1. Those who continue to deny their faults and refuse to change are hurting themselves.
      2. If you are a Christian and you rebel when God chastens you, one day He will crush you. God may suddenly crush things that are valuable to you – it may be your health, your wealth, your family, your freedom, or your reputation. Stubborn rebels never win.
      3. If you refuse to change, God may even take you to heaven early. God warns about a “sin unto death” in 1 John 5:16.
   2. Rebels will have no healing.
      1. This does not mean that you cannot now repent and get right with God and others.
      2. It means that repeated rebellion is forming calluses in your heart that get thicker and harder day by day making the remedy more difficult.
         ☆ Young person, if you have been rebelling against dad or mum, you are rebelling against God and are heading for big trouble. Adults, if you are resisting correction from your spouse, from your pastor, from sermons, from the Bible, or from the Holy Spirit’s conviction, BIG trouble is just around the corner. Rebels never win with God.
         There is a far better way to respond to correction…

We May Repent (Proverbs 25:4)

Though this verse does not directly speak of repenting when corrected, the principle is clearly taught in it.

1. The response to correction
   1. The illustration of this verse is that of a blast furnace that heats silver to a melting temperature so that the dross (dirt or impurities) may be removed from the silver.
   2. Correction is like that blast furnace. It is seeking to melt us so that we will soften, repent and allow the impurities to be removed from our lives.
   3. It was Spurgeon who said, “God will never have great chastisements in store for those who are quick confessors of sin.”
   4. Repentance is a change of mind about our sin. When someone points out something in your life that needs to change, repentance is admitting the problem and desiring to change. Repentant reactions to rebuke include:
      1. Listening intently
      2. Self-inspection
      3. Ask God to open your eyes and heart
      4. Admitting failure
      5. Confessing sin
      6. Seeking help
      7. Change attitudes and actions
      8. Thinking biblically
   5. Repentance is not just admitting a fault; it is a change of mind that results in a change of action. It is not just raising your hand after a sermon. It is making necessary changes. God is not just looking for agreement but action. Jesus told a story that illustrates this in (Matthew 21:28). But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. 29) He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. 30) And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. 31) Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. 32) For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him. The first son refused but then repented and worked. The second son rebelled in his heart, lied and never went to work. The repentant son was blessed.
      ☆ When your parent corrects you for being mean or selfish, do you repent and change your ways? When you are scolded for disobedience, do you repent, ask forgiveness and do right? When your spouse or friend points out your angry attitude and tries to help you, do you repent and apologize or do you rebel? When you wear clothing that is immodest or worldly and someone questions you on it, do you humbly repent and change? When you yield to temptation and the Holy Spirit rebukes you, do you bow before Him in brokenness?
2. The result
   1. Solomon’s illustration of refining silver teaches that by purifying the silver the result is high-quality silver that the finer (silversmith) can use for making quality items. Dirty silver lacks quality and is not very valuable. Clean silver is precious.
   2. When we respond to correction with humble repentance, the result will be improved character. Repentance leads to change and change leads to improved character.
   3. Correction applies to every area of life. When corrected, we always have two choices. We can rebel or we can repent. Rebellion leads to hurt and repentance leads to improvement.

Conclusion

How have you been responding to correction? Remember, rebels will be crushed but those repentant will be improved. If you think you repent when you are corrected, but you do not change your ways, you are deceiving yourself. You are really hardening your heart.

This evening, God is calling us to stop hardening our necks and to truly repent and change. Children, this means you must ask God to help you change when you get in trouble. Young people, this means you must listen to your parents, to your pastor, and to God and change your sinful ways. Adults, this means we too must stop talking about improving and get serious about repentance and true change.

(Galatians 5:16) This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

Song: Have Thine Own Way – 388
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Two Responses to Correction
10 April 2016 PM – Pr 29:1; 25:4 – Fortifying the Family – Scott Childs