Do you like to be told you’re wrong about something? Chances are, you don’t. Most human beings do not like to be told they’re wrong. Possibly you’ve heard it said that one of the most difficult things for a human being to do is to admit that he’s been wrong. A truer statement was never made!
To the complacent “man on the street” with the self-satisfied “this is the way I look at it” idea, it never occurs that perhaps there is something terribly wrong with him. Has this thought ever occurred to you? Most of us can readily see the mistakes of others, and that fact is hardly necessary to repeat –– because we all know it. We’re anxious to criticize. We frequently voice our “opinions” about prices, about taxes, and wages. We become annoyed with our Government, with our neighbor, with our friends and relatives. But – have we ever become annoyed with ourselves?
The barbershop philosophers of the world are aware that something is wrong somewhere. Most of them know there need to be some changes made. But to the “average” person engulfed in the struggle of making ends meet, and of earning a wage, there has never occurred the thought that maybe he is terribly wrong about something. Stop and think! Have you ever heard someone say to a friend: “I’m terribly upset –– I believe I’ve been wrong about my beliefs, and I think I’ve made a mistake in most of my opinions.” Have you? I doubt it!
God’s Word Corrects
Most of us are “uplifted” by the minister that will stand in front of the group and tell us how wrong the rest of the world is. But are we willing to shake the minister’s hand that will stand in the pulpit and shout at us that we’re wrong?
Many people express it this way: “Church should be an enjoyable period of relaxation and rest from our daily existence – a change. We want the minister to help us with our problems, to give us that feeling of ‘goodness’ that helps us carry on through the week to come.” But is that the Bible definition of a Church service? Let’s investigate open mindedly, and find out!
In II Timothy 3:16 we see that ALL scripture is given by inspiration of God. We must all agree on that statement. But what of the rest of the verse? Read it! “… And is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” Yes, all scripture is profitable for correction and reproof!
How many of us tuck our Bibles under our arms as a weapon against humanity except ourselves? How many of us really know how to study our Bibles? Do you know there is a definite, clearly stated plan of Bible-study revealed in God’s word? The Bible itself tells us HOW to study it.
Be Willing to CHANGE
We all would like to be called “sons” by our Almighty Heavenly Father, wouldn’t we? God has revealed the way whereby we may be His sons through the prophet Isaiah in Chapter 55, vs. 6, 7 and 8, where the Almighty clearly tells us that we must forsake our own ways and our own thoughts! Then, after forsaking our own ways, or, in other words, after repenting, or changing from the old way, God will forgive us of our past sins, and through His own freely given gift will empower us with his Holy Spirit, and begin dealing with us as His own Sons! (I John 3:1). After this giving up of our own selves and our own human thoughts, ideas and customs, God will begin treating us as His very own children.
Sounds easy, doesn’t it? All we have to do is forsake our own way. But what then? Goal achieved?
Listen!
After this begettal as a very child of God, we are told then “… My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him” (Hebrews 12:5). But what is this? After we are made the very sons of God, He is going to chastise us! This wonderful twelfth chapter of Hebrews continues to tell us: “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son he receiveth.” Do you want this scourging? Apparently not many today do, or admitting we are wrong would be one of the EASIEST things to do. To continue reading in Hebrews, “… If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?” How plain! Read for yourself these meaningful words in your own Bible, and see how God deals with His own children.
“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.” Yes, exercised thereby! (I remember it was not too many years ago that the kind of chastening I received from my fleshly father was literal exercise!) And so should our chastisement from our Heavenly Father become constant exercise.
Be Truly Wise
Consider the definition of a wise man given by Solomon in Prov. 15:31. “The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise.” So a person with wisdom is one who accepts and does not reject REPROOF. The great wisdom of Solomon directed him by God’s divine inspiration to write: “A wise son heareth his father’s instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke” (Prov. 13:1). However, judgments are reserved for scorners (Prov. 19:29), and the Bible definition of scorner is “one who will not hear reproof.” So are we scorners, or the very children of God?
God’s command to His ministers is to cry aloud, spare not, lift up your voice and show my people their sins! (Isa. 58:1). The Apostle Paul, exhorting Timothy in the faith said: “Preach the word … reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine” (II Tim. 4:2). And again, the Apostle Paul told Titus to rebuke sharply, and to rebuke with authority! (Titus 1:13; 2:15). And if God’s ministers are speaking with God’s authority, using His true word, which Paul described as being “sharper than a two-edged sword” (Hebrews 4:12), the word of God will be used profitably!
David was a man after God’s own heart. God doesn’t judge by the outward appearance, as does man, but God looks on the heart (I Sam. 16:7). David sinned, as do all men, but his heart was right, and he always repented bitterly. Surely if all scripture is written by direct inspiration of God and is profitable for instruction, then we can find instruction from the manner in which David prayed. David had the thing people seem to lack today. He actually ASKED for righteous reproof! (Psalms 141:5). David considered it a kindness if he received correction. How utterly unlike today’s “man on the street” David must have been!
The prophet Jeremiah actually asked God for correction when he said: “O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. O Lord, correct me, but with judgment; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing” (Jeremiah 10:23-24).
Salvation is a personal thing! It is between you and the Almighty Creator –– Ruler of this entire Universe! (Rom. 14:12). Have you been using your Bible profitably? Have you been on your knees before God asking to be shown you’re WRONG? Have you opened your Bible, eagerly searching for a mirror to evaluate your mistakes? Could it be that you have been wrong about something?
Why take chances? Let’s all open our Bibles and say to God earnestly: “Correct ME!”
