Proverbs 1:7 "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction."
So, my roommate and good friend, Chris, and I have started a Bible study recently and we're going through Proverbs. I know, duh, we get it from the title. Anyway, this verse, out of all of chapter 1, stuck out to me the most. Especially the second half.
So many times I've found I don't accept instruction well. If it's at work, and from an authority, I just do it. But when a friend, or even my wonderful girlfriend, tries to correct me on something, I get stupid. Just like the verse says. Fools (aka: idiots-aka: me) hate wisdom and instruction. Instruction isn't just rules of how to do something or how to act, it's also constructive criticism.
I'm not the best at receiving constructive criticism. Ask anybody. I suck. I was horrible at receiving it from my buddy, Joel, who was editing my book the first time around. I was so bad about it, I made him stop. Even when Liesl first started editing it, I wasn't the best, but I grew from it, and I take it a lot better now. Sometimes it's all in how it's presented to me, but more often than not, it's my own bad attitude.
When are you given instruction? When you're learning something or being re-taught something right? So, why is it I can receive new instructions, but I can't be reminded of the ones I was already given? The answer's simple. Pride.
I don't admit to it or, sometimes, even realize it, but my pride hurts me. Not only does it hurt me, but it hurts others around me. Especially those closest to me.
Just the other day, Liesl tried to tell me how something I did hurt her, and what did I do? I blew off her confession and hurt and immediately went on the defensive, telling her she needed to lighten up. <smack> Well, that's what I deserve after that wonderful display. A good slap in the face or kick to the junk.
I need to humble myself and learn to receive instruction. I don't want to be labeled a fool. It may be too late for that, but maybe, just maybe, if I humble myself enough, I can get myself out of that hole. On second thought, if I humble myself enough, God will eventually pick me up out of that horrible pit called pride.
