Text: Prov 12:1-3 ESV 1 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid. 2 A good man obtains favor from the Lord, but a man of evil devices he condemns. 3 No one is established by wickedness, but the root of the righteous will never be moved. - Prov 12:1-3 ESV LOVE DISCIPLINE, LOVE LEARNING Solomon establishes the strong correlation between discipline and knowledge. That is, he who loves discipline loves to learn more. A wise person takes correction and criticism under consideration. We can learn by trial and error, i.e., by experience. We learn from our mistakes. But, “Experience is the hardest kind of teacher. It gives you the test first and the lesson afterward.”[Oscar Wilde] Why learn the hard way, when we could learn the easy way, i.e., to listen and obey? However, the person who refuses corrections is ‘stupid’. He is somebody with an animal's uncontrolled and simplistic mind. Those who refuse to be corrected are like unreasoning animals (2 Pet 2:12). He may be highly intelligent, well educated, but one who refuses correction is inarguably "stupid," in this sense. Do godly people "enjoy" being corrected? Not necessarily, but they welcome constructive criticism and seek to learn from it. And, those who ignore these corrections "hate" them and are acting stupidly. The results of these differing preferences are approval and condemnation, respectively. “The Lord approves of those who are good, but he condemns those who plan wickedness.”[v.2 NLT] "For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly." [Psa 84:11] Previously, Solomon wrote, "For whoever finds wisdom finds life and obtains favor from the LORD."[Prov 8:35] God condemns, on the other hand, him who ‘devices’ evil. This word means scheming or plotting. Paul assures us that "the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done."[ Col 3:25 ] A person may think he is escaping the consequences here and now (Prov 10:2–4) but eternity will prove him wrong (Prov 10:7). He will receive God’s condemnation sooner or later. An evil or wicked life is marked by instability. “Wickedness never brings stability but the godly have deep roots.”[v.3,NLT] Isaiah writes, “There is no peace,” says the Lord, “for the wicked.” [Isa 48:22;57:21] Their only expectation is God’s judgment. In contrast, the righteous are secured. As Isaiah says, “Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation:‘Whoever believes will not be in haste.’ [Isa 28:16] ------------------------- Visit and FOLLOW Gospel Light Filipino on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram