Read Proverbs 15
I read Proverbs 15 from the Amplified Classic Bible and the New Living Translation.
My thoughts on Proverbs 15:
"A soft answer turns away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger." (Proverbs 15:1 AMPC) Choose soft words, not harsh ones, or even silence. Arguing with someone who is angry can cause the anger to escalate. Wrath - chêmâh, heat; figuratively, anger, poison (from its fever):—anger, bottles, hot displeasure, furious(-ly, -ry), heat, indignation, poison, rage, wrath(-ful) (Strong's H253) Anger - A violent passion of the mind excited by a real or supposed injury; usually accompanied with a propensity to take vengeance, or to obtain satisfaction from the offending party (Noah Webster 1828 Dictionary)
Knowledge should be appealing to us and we should be able to make it appealing to others.
God sees everything. He misses nothing.
Gentle words bring healing and life. Gentleness is not weakness, it's strength and reflects love. It takes strength to not answer in kind. It takes love to want to diffuse a volatile situation. Gentle - Mild; meek; soft; bland; not rough, harsh or severe; as a gentle nature, temper or disposition; a gentle manner; a gentle address; a gentle voice; Tame; peaceable; not wild, turbulent or refractory; Soothing; Treating with mildness; not violent (Noah Webster 1828 Dictionary)
Learn from correction. It's not meant to hurt us but to help us.
Aword of caution: Everyone cannot speak correction into your life. Make sure the person offering correction has a relationship with God, loves and respects you, and is a Divine Connection. Recognize who is talking to you!
The wise give good advice. When someone comes to you for advice, see what the Word of God says, pray about what you want to say. Sometimes we should just listen and tell the person we need time to think and pray about it. "Understand [this], my beloved brethren. Let every man be quick to hear [a ready listener], slow to speak, slow to take offense and to get angry." (James 1:19 AMPC)
God delights in the prayers of the upright - think about it, God delights in your prayers! He delights in you! "The steps of a [good] man are directed and established by the Lord when He delights in his way [and He busies Himself with his every step]. Though he falls, he shall not be utterly cast down, for the Lord grasps his hand in support and upholds him." (Psalm 37:23-24 AMPC)
Pursue God. "But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also." (Matthew 6:33 AMP) "But as for you, O man of God, flee from all these things; aim at and pursue righteousness (right standing with God and true goodness), godliness (which is the loving fear of God and being Christlike), faith, love, steadfastness (patience), and gentleness of heart." (1 Timothy 6:11 AMPC) "
Be hungry for knowledge. "The mind of the prudent is ever getting knowledge, and the ear of the wise is ever seeking (inquiring for and craving) knowledge." (Proverbs 18:15 AMPC)
To stay on the right path, stay in God's Word. "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." (Psalm 119:105 AMPC)
We are not meant to do anything alone or move based solely on our own counsel. "Where no wise guidance is, the people fall, but in the multitude of counselors there is safety." (Proverbs 11:14 AMPC) "Purposes and plans are established by counsel; and [only] with good advice make or carry on war." (Proverbs 20:18 AMPC) "For by wise counsel you can wage your war, and in an abundance of counselors there is victory and safety." (Proverbs 24:6 AMPC)
Think carefully before speaking. " Intelligent people think before they speak; what they say is then more persuasive." (Proverbs 16:23 GNT)
Don't reject discipline. Listen to discipline and grow in understanding. "He who heeds instruction and correction is [not only himself] in the way of life [but also] is a way of life for others. And he who neglects or refuses reproof [not only himself] goes astray [but also] causes to err and is a path toward ruin for others." (Proverbs 10:17 AMPC)
The verses that spoke to me:
"The ear that listens to the reproof [that leads to or gives] life will remain among the wise. He who refuses and ignores instruction and correction despises himself, but he who heeds reproof gets understanding." (Proverbs 15:31-32 AMPC)
My takeaway:
I wanted to make sure I understood what this verse was saying so I did a word study. I've learned throughout my journey with the Lord and reading His Word, that words may not always mean what I think. They usually have more depth and context is important. While the same words are used multiple times, they can have different meanings and impact. I highly recommend blueletterbible.org to give you the Hebrew, Old Testament, and Greek, New Testament, meanings of words.
These are the words I focused on:
Listen - To hearken; to give ear; to attend closely with a view to hear; To obey; to yield to advice; to follow admonition (Noah Webster 1828 Dictionary)
Hear - shâmaʻ, to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.):—attentively, call (gather) together, carefully, certainly, consent, consider, be content, declare, diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make to) hear(-ken, tell), indeed, listen, make (a) noise, (be) obedient, obey, perceive, (make a) proclaim(-ation), publish, regard, report, shew (forth), (make a) sound, surely, tell, understand, whosoever (heareth), witness (Strong's H8085)
Reproof - tôwkêchâh, chastisement; figuratively (by words) correction, refutation, proof (even in defense):—argument, chastened, correction, reasoning, rebuke, reproof, be (often) reproved (Strong's H8433)
Instruction - mûwçâr, properly, chastisement; figuratively, reproof, warning or instruction; also restraint:—bond, chastening(-eth), chastisement, check, correction, discipline, doctrine, instruction, rebuke (Strong's H4148)
Instruction and correction, reproof, are key to growing in wisdom. "Hear counsel, receive instruction, and accept correction, that you may be wise in the time to come." (Proverbs 19:20)
I must learn how to listen to others without being defensive. While I may hear things, I'd rather not, I should prayerfully consider if there is any truth in their words and act accordingly. I must listen to hear, to yield to advice of those God has identified for me to listen to. Not everyone can speak into your life but you can learn something from everyone. Always take it to the Lord to determine what, if anything, applies.
The Word tells a lot about correction and instruction:
"Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God’s will in thought, purpose, and action), So that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well fitted and2 thoroughly equipped for every good work." (1 Timothy 3:16-17 AMPC)
"And have you [completely] forgotten the divine word of appeal and encouragement in which you are reasoned with and addressed as sons? My son, do not think lightly or scorn to submit to the correction and discipline of the Lord, nor lose courage and give up and faint when you are reproved or corrected by Him; For the Lord corrects and disciplines everyone whom He loves, and He punishes, even scourges, every son whom He accepts and welcomes to His heart and cherishes. You must submit to and endure [correction] for discipline; God is dealing with you as with sons. For what son is there whom his father does not [thus] train and correct and discipline? Now if you are exempt from correction and left without discipline in which all [of God’s children] share, then you are illegitimate offspring and not true sons [at all]." (Hebrews 12:5-8 AMPC)
"Hear instruction and be wise, and do not refuse or neglect it." (Proverbs 8:33 AMPC)
"Give instruction to a wise man and he will be yet wiser; teach a righteous man (one upright and in right standing with God) and he will increase in learning." (Proverbs 9:9 AMPC)
"Whoever loves instruction and correction loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is like a brute beast, stupid and indiscriminating." (Proverbs 12:1 AMPC)
God corrects us through Holy Spirit, His Word, and people. He corrects us because He loves us and we are His children. He wants to make sure we stay on the path to life and don't fall prey to the devil.
I hear the Lord saying, “I will stay close to you, instructing and guiding you along the pathway for your life. I will advise you along the way and lead you forth with my eyes as your guide. So don’t make it difficult; don’t be stubborn when I take you where you’ve not been before. Don’t make me tug you and pull you along. Just come with me!” (Psalm 32:8-9 TPT)
Everything we need to grow spiritually, to live Kingdom minded, and to be used by God is found in His Word. We have to make His Word a priority.
Let's take some instruction from Joshua:
"This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success." (Joshua 1:8 AMPC)
The more Word we have, the more wisdom, knowledge, and insight we'll gain and apply to our lives, thereby making a Kingdom impact on earth.
FAITH CONFESSION:
Lord, I desire more of You. Help me to embrace instruction and correction so I can let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work in me, so that I may be perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing. (Adapted from James 1:4 AMPC) Let Your Kingdom come, and Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven, through me.
Share in the comments what verse spoke to you and why. Let's grow in wisdom together.
Be Encouraged! ❤