Reproof

Reproof


Let's study reproof for a bit. The meaning of reproof is …


re·proof
[ri-proof]

Show IPA
–noun
1.
the act of reproving, censuring, or rebuking.
2.
an expression of censure or rebuke.

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The Bible has this to say about reproof…


Pro 1:25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my REPROOF

Pro 1:30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my REPROOF

Pro 5:12 And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised REPROOF

Pro 10:17 He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth REPROOF erreth.

Pro 12:1 Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth REPROOF is brutish

Pro 13:18 Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth REPROOF shall be honoured.

Pro 15:5 A fool despiseth his father's instruction: but he that regardeth REPROOF is prudent.

Pro 15:10 Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth REPROOF shall die.

Pro 15:31 The ear that heareth the REPROOF of life abideth among the wise.

Pro 15:32 He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth REPROOF getteth understanding.

Pro 17:10 A REPROOF entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.

Pro 29:15 The rod and REPROOF give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.

2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for REPROOF, for correction, for instruction in righteousness


Clearly the Bible promotes reproof, especially the reproof of God towards His children as He tries to teach them the way to live. We are erring children and when we err God is eager to show us where we've gone wrong. God doesn't leave us to wonder where we've erred. The Bible doesn't hold back when it talks of how we should be as God's children. There are many instructions in the Bible, the Ten Commandments most notably in both the Old and New Testaments. The Old Testament declared the Ten Commandments and the New Testament reestablished them in our Savior.


Let's read something I found very interesting...


'The rebellion in Heaven was prompted by the same spirit which inspires rebellion on earth.
Satan has continued with men the same policy which he pursued with the angels.
His spirit now reigns in the children of disobedience.
There is a constant hatred of reproof, and a disposition to rebel against it.
When God sends to wrong-doers a message of warning or correction, Satan leads them to justify
themselves, and to seek the sympathy of others.
Instead of changing their wrong course, they manifest great indignation against the reprover, as if he were the sole cause of difficulty.
From the days of righteous Abel to our own time, such is the spirit which has been displayed toward those who dare to condemn sin.'

GC - E.G.W. pg 281


There truly is a constant hatred of reproof. Do you like to be reproved? Seriously? The last time someone reproved you, were you grateful? Maybe you were, but I know I wasn't. To me being reproved for something means I was wrong about something and I don't like being wrong about things. Am I saying that I'm delusional and think I'm never going to be wrong? No! I just don't like being wrong and when I am I don't enjoy having it pointed out to me. Maybe if it were God Himself reproving me I'd feel differently, but that's not how it's always done. Sure we can find a lot to reprove us in God's word but that isn't nearly as bad as having another person tell us where we've gone wrong. Whose business is it of theirs? Do they think they're perfect? They have no right to point out my faults that's between me and God. Of course that kind of thinking goes against God's will for us. We are to accept reproof and learn from it. The source of that reproof shouldn't matter! Neither should the way the reproof is given to us matter. When we are reproved-


re·prove
[ri-proov]

Show IPA verb, -proved, -prov·ing.
–verb (used with object)
1.
to criticize or correct, esp. gently: to reprove a pupil for making a mistake.
2.
to disapprove of strongly; censure: to reprove a bad decision.
3.
Obsolete . to disprove or refute.

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When we are reproved we are corrected, we are criticized, we are disapproved of strongly, we are censured. When our wrong doing is revealed we have to take stock in what is being said. Is the one reproving us speaking the truth? Is pride in the way of us truly seeing the truth? Do we instantly go on the defensive when rebuked? What happens if the one reproving us is wrong? What then? Satan likes nothing better than disputing- setting people at odds with one another. So what if the one reproving you is wrong, the Bible tells us to turn the other cheek, right? The Bible tells us we will be despised and accused falsely. The thing here is to really listen to what's being said and instead of outright dismissing the reproof, give it consideration. The person giving the reproof - even if they are not one we'd considered godly- might be a vessel being used of God to give us a message, to wake us up to an undesirable state we might be in. Even Judas was given power to heal. Read Matthew 10:1-4


'When God sends to wrong-doers a message of warning or correction, Satan leads them to justify
themselves, and to seek the sympathy of others. '


We do that… the try to justify ourselves it's almost instinctive, but what I'm saying is 'almost instinctive' is in fact Satan's handiwork being revealed. He's ingrained in us so much through the many, many years of sin and He starts at us when we are very young so that we'll grow up with many cherished defects he hopes we'll never surrender to Christ.


That bit about seeking the sympathy of others is true as well. We go to other people and can't wait to tell them the awful stuff that was said to us so that we can be reassured that we're just fine and the one reproving us was at fault and clearly very wrong. We get our sympathy and it helps us along to ignore the reproof.


Yes, instead of changing our wrong ways we do get indignant at those pointing them out. We know we have faults but there is NO reason to point them out, right? Yes, there is a reason, a big reason especially if God is trying to open our eyes to things that we need to pray about and seek the victory over.


From the days of ABEL till now, it's the same way. Sin is sin is sin is sin! We can't justify sin. We can't hide sin. We can't make sin good. We can try to call evil good and we are told many will do just that, but evil is evil is evil and bottom line there is no changing sin. We can be forgiven sin, but we won't ever be told it's okay to sin…not ever! We will never be told sin is not evil, not and be told the truth.


*******

Here's a snippet from C.S. Lewis--


'There is either a warning or an encouragement here for every one of us. If you are a nice person-if virtue comes easily to you beware! Much is expected from those to whom much is given. If you mistake for your own merits what are really God's gifts to you through nature, and if you are
contented with simply being nice, you are still a rebel: and all those gifts will only make your fall more terrible, your corruption more complicated, your bad example more disastrous. The Devil was an archangel once; his natural gifts were as far above yours as yours are above those of a
chimpanzee.
But if you are a poor creature-poisoned by a wretched upbringing in some house full of vulgar jealousies and senseless quarrels-saddled, by no choice of your own, with some loathsome sexual perversion-nagged day in and day out by an inferiority complex that makes you snap at your best
friends-do not despair. He knows all about it. You are one of the poor whom He blessed. He knows what a wretched machine you are trying to drive. Keep on. Do what you can. One day (perhaps in another world, but perhaps far sooner than that) he will fling it on the scrap-heap and give you a new one.
And then you may astonish us all-not least yourself: for you have learned your driving in a hard school. (Some of the last will be first and some of the first will be last.)'

Mere Christianity - C.S. Lewis


How does that fit into the message of reproof? Well, Jesus does know what a 'wretched machine' we are trying to drive. Jesus knows that we often forget where anything good in us comes from. We are known for what we are. We can't ever get to a place that we believe we are undeserving of reproof- whether we are at our best or at our worst. God sees every defect in our characters, every single one. God knows us better than we'll ever know ourselves and we have to trust in Him to give us the reproof we need and by His grace and mercy we'll accept that reproof and go to Him begging forgiveness and seeking a clean heart.


The next time someone reproves you try not to react on the offensive, try to react as if they might be truly trying to help with their rebuking even if it's hurtful in its delivery. We are told this…


Heb 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.


If God's word is that powerful, it stands to reason His reproof of us will be powerful and painful.


Heb 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.


Chastened and scourged-- Pain!


Rev 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.


Rebuked and chastened-- Pain!


Heb 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.


Grievious--Pain!


We won't like the chastening, we won't like the reproof, we won't be joyous during our learning but by the grace of God may we learn and afterward have the peaceable fruit of Christ's righteousness.


In His love! In His mercy! By His grace! All honor and praise to our wonderful Creator and Redeemer now and forever!


Amen.