Ignoring Instruction

Ignoring Instruction  

By Russ Kujawski

10/10/2017

Proverbs 15:32-33

³² Whoever ignores instruction despises himself,
    but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence.
³³ The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom,
    and humility comes before honor.

So, let’s get started in the in depth look at the verses mentioned above.

Prov 15:32

³² Whoever ignores instruction despises himself,
    but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence.

Whoever: I’m not a big fan on political correctness, when its he, her, me, you, us, them then that’s how it should be. This verse isn’t speaking to just a selected few it’s not speaking to males or females, it’s not speaking to the rich or the poor, the powerful or the weak. It’s speaking to you and me we are the WHOEVER your status in society or lack of status, you are the WHOEVER. John 5:24 “^24a Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life”. The word whoever is not exclusive it’s inclusive it refers to everyone on this earth. If you believe in the God of the bible or don’t believe in the God of the bible you are still a WHOEVER.

Ignores: The NASB states it this way “He who neglects” he here is referring to male or female. The word ignores or neglect is a verb it’s an action word.  Meaning: to let alone, avoid, neglect. Whoever take’s intentional action to not listen to instructions. Gods tells us to repent we are instructed to repent. King David in Psalms 32 gives an example of when he neglected to repent and also the results of repentance.

32 Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,
    whose sin is covered.
² Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity,
    and in whose spirit, there is no deceit.

³ For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away
    through my groaning all day long.
⁴ For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
    my strength was dried up^] as by the heat of summer. Selah

⁵ I acknowledged my sin to you,
    and I did not cover my iniquity;
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”
    and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. 

Psalms tells us Blessed is the one who’s transgressions are forgiven. As we follow the instructions of the LORD we are blessed not in just repentance, but in putting into action Gods word {Luke 11:28 But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”} not following Gods instruction can be like a heavy weight around our neck. You want an easy life? Sorry it’s not going to happen this world is dying. As we stop ignoring Gods instructions or as we will see shortly Gods discipline We can navigate this world thru all its turmoil and have a Joy and be in Gods rest. Why because he who is in us is greater than he who is in the world. We as bible believing Christians have the Holy Spirit dwelling with in us. He helps us understand, guides us in choices, lets us know when we are about to fall, renews us when we are at our whit’s end. He gives us strength, and words to say.

Stop and listen for the Lord, ignoring or neglecting the LORD is not a viable option.

Ps 32: ³ For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away
    through my groaning all day long.
⁴ For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
    my strength was dried up^] as by the heat of summer. Selah

Don’t keep silent!

Next word

 Instruction: There is an aspect to this word that most probably don’t want to hear. It’s DISCIPLINE, CHASTENING, CORRECTION. Ouch! This verse is telling us not to ignore the discipline or correction. What are the results of our actions when we ignore instructions or discipline? Answered in the next Word

Next word

Despise: this is another action word (verb) when you despise instructions you are taking intentional action to not listen, you are rejecting the instructions or discipline. You are refusing to take the necessary action for correction. You become loathsome, melt away as the KJ translate this word sometimes. Although the next word is “himself” it’s speaking about the individual that does this. Rarely does the actions of a single person only affect that person alone. Your actions normally have a broader effect on others especially with in the family unit. May I also add with in a church family also. The church body can also be affected by those who ignore instruction /discipline.  When that happens division not multiplication can happen in the Church body.

The big BUT!

But he who listens: the one who hears and has understanding, who perceives this instruction and obeys. The one who takes the advice given and makes corrections. Action taken choice is made. Just like it’s a choice to not listen to ignore instruction it’s also a choice to listen and discern that the instructions and or discipline is for the benefit of the one instruction is given to and also benefit to the body that is the church and the family unit.

Next word

Reproof: rebuke, correction, punishment, chastisement.

Reproof is the letting know of some one’s mistake. As Christians when we see someone in sin, it is the duty of Christians to approach that person in love and make them aware of their wrong doing. Matthew 18:15-17 give’s instructions on how to do this. As I’m doing this study I came across many verses on judging other believers as a fellow believer. That’s another study for the green file. May I also say when someone is seen in incorrect doctrine or theology. It is the responsibility to make attempts to reproof their understanding of doctrine and theology. It’s not just the job of pastors or elders, we are all called to a holy priest hood, we are all called to ministry. Just one final comment on this word reproof. There is an aspect of chastisement.  Nobody want to be chastised, as a fellow Christian by letting a fellow Christian continue down the path of destruction and we don’t do or say anything, if it be possible are we not allowing them to throw away their faith and maybe their eternity with Christ. If it’s possible or not you still don’t want to see a fellow Christian in sin.

Next word

Gains: this is a verb so there is some action happening here. Through the reproof, you obtain, acquire, secure, something favorable or profitable to you, in affect is also profitable to those whom you have contact with. If it be your family, the church you attend, or those you work with, what you gain can be useful to others also, as you speak to them.    

Next word

Intelligence:  not so sure I like the ESV use of the word ‘intelligence” most versions use the word “understanding” or a couple of versions use “good sense” The NASB translation as well some others have a foot note and it states this “Literally Heart” one who listens to reproof gains a heart.

 Acts 8:20-22 

 20 Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! 21 You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. 22 Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart.

Just a few more verses about the heart.

Rom 10:9

because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

 Rom 10:10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

Mat 15:18

But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person.

By listening to reproof and taking corrective action, we gain understanding, we gain heart. A heart for the Lord, a heart for the church, a heart for people. Scripture is very clear I believe that the heart is the center of our relationship with the Lord and anyone else for that matter. Look at the verses above these are just a few heart verses, there are many “believe in your heart, with the heart you believe and are justified, what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart” Where the heart is so are your actions of faith.

Summary of verse 32

By ignoring discipline and not listening to reproof you not only continue in your failures as a Christian those failures will affect those around you. By listening you gain understanding {you gain Heart} you start walking in step with the Lord, and in turn have a positive effect on those around you.

 Proverbs 15:33

³³ The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom,

and humility comes before honor.

Fear of the Lord: This can be a tough thing to grasp especially if you don’t know what the word fear means in it’s context. Fearing God in this context is reverence for God as noted in the NASB translation. Revering God or fearing God in this way is the beginning of wisdom, knowledge Prov 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.

What does reverence mean: as a noun= deep respect for someone or something. Synonyms: high esteem, high regard, great respect, acclaim, admiration, appreciation, estimation, favor as a verb=regard or treat with deep respect.

What comes with reverence for God? How about desires. When you hold someone up and have a high regard for them or a deep respect for them you have certain desires. Maybe it’s to be more like them or to follow in their footsteps to imitate them.

As the verses above say the fear of the Lord or Reverence for the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom and Knowledge. I think having a real reverence for God that we would have a desire to imitate him. No! we can’t create a universe or be everywhere at once. There are aspects of God we can imitate.

Ephesians5:1-2 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Be imitators of God. Why? Because we are his children.

 Jhn 1:12

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,

 Rom 8:16

The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

Notice we are not step children, we are his children. It’s has always bothered me when someone marries into an existing family and when the kids are introduced something like this is said” This is my wife Mary my daughter Sue my son Bill and my step son Mike” you did a couple of things there when you used the word stepson. One you reminded him he is not your son,2 you are not his father, and 3 he’s extra baggage. If you a man or woman marring someone with kids, they are your kids you married the family not the individual. In case you think I don’t know what I’m talking about I married a woman with 3 kids, they are my kids. I don’t introduce them as step children and they don’t introduce me as their step dad. At the point here in being imitators of God because I Love them, and they Love me they can be called Children of Russ the same goes for being Gods children he loves us, and we love him we become Gods children. I have not found any references as Gods children as step children. We are part of the family.

 Being imitator of God, we are to Love one another, being kind and forgiving one another as God forgave you in Christ

Eph 4: ³² Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

I know the thought here is “there are some people I just don’t like, or you might say I’ll never forgive them” Well guess what Eph 4:1-32 is speaking of believers. To have unity in the body of Christ, we have a new life in Christ. Let this sink in “If we as brothers and sisters in Christ can’t be kind, tender hearted, forgiving one another how are we supposed to affect the world, those around us. When we as Christians act as if we are still part of the worldly family instead of the heavenly family.”

As imitators of God we are to throw off are old self and be holy as God is holy.

^{1Peter 1: 14} As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, ¹⁵ but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, ¹⁶ since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” {Former ignorance: who you were before coming to Christ having received the gift of adoption}

Getting back on track

The fear of the Lord, reverence for the Lord, we desire to imitate his Love, His mercy, we desire his relationship to deepen with you, we desire his word, we desire communication with him, we desire to worship him, we desire to follow him, we desire to be obedient, we desire to fellowship with him, we desire to commune with other brothers and sisters in the Lord, and maybe the hardest of all is the desire to share him.

Next Word: Instruction in Wisdom

In verse 32 instruction is better translated “discipline” as the NASB does, but in this case instruction is just that instructions. The fear of the Lord is guidance in wisdom God will not miss direct you, miss lead you, making wise decisions, or speaking wise word to others. When we fail in making a wise chose is it because we listening to our thought instead of Gods instruction.  How are we to know the difference? Well here is a thought “If the door is closed and isn’t opening or if the door closed while trying to make a decision, then don’t force it open you probably shouldn’t go in that direction. If you force it open and things go south, then it’s all on you!”  That’s my thought. We have the Holy Spirit that is with us at all times part of his reason for being there is to guide us. He guides in all that we do we just need to listen more talk less. We need to discern actions in accordance with the word of God and not the ways of world

Next Word: Humility & Honor

The fear of the Lord instructs us in humility other uses of the Hebrew word for humility are gentleness and meekness.  How is the word humility defined in Webster’s dictionary?

: the quality or state of not thinking you are better than other people.

The instruction in humility that we receive from the fear of the Lord is an understanding the we need you Lord. I can’t imagine my life without God, my life without His intervention. Here are a few verses on those who humble themselves and call upon the Lord.

Psa 18:27

For you save a humble people,

  Psa 25:9

He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way. But the haughty eyes you bring down.

Psa 149:4

For the LORD takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation.

This is one of my Favorite verses.

2 Chronicales 7:14

if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

What do these verses tell us God, the Lord saves the humble, he leads the humble, teaches the humble, he clothed the humble with salvation, and last but not the least by any means he HEARS the humble and Heals their land.

Just some little personnel thought on 2 Chronicles. This verse is being stated to a nation Israel a nation in trouble. I also believe the principles of this verse apply to us also in our lives. If we humble ourselves and pray he will heal our lives give us the peace we so desire. We need to come to the conclusion that we cannot fix our lives without the Lord. James 4:10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you. James 4:10 is a good verse to read in conjunction with Prov 15:33. There will be those who see humbleness as weakness but when we humble ourselves before the Lord he honors us or as James states it He Exalts us, he will lift us up, raise us up to dignity. As we are humble before the Lord the world will see that they will see your light shining from amongst the evils of this world. { Mat 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.}

 {2Co 4:6For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.}

How’s your light shining do you need to humble yourself before the Lord?

Final Thoughts

When we ignore instruction or as the NASB puts it “discipline “we despise ourselves we will continue to fail in our relationship with the Lord which in turn affects our personnel relationship with others. When we listen to reproof “correction” we will gain understanding, as we fear the Lord having reverence for the Lord we gain instructions in wisdom and humility, with that humility before the Lord he will honor us, lift us up, exalt us. The effects of the Lord honoring us, our light will shine and reflect the light of Christ.

Jhn 8:12

Again, Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

  How’s your light shining?