About the Author
ConservaTibbs
Opinion Archives
E-mail Scott
Scott's Links


Know your role and shut your mouth

By Scott Tibbs, April 10, 2017

Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured. -- Proverbs 13:18

I am naturally a very defensive person. I do not like to be attacked and I especially do not like to be rebuked by people who love me. But part of being a man is being willing to admit where you are wrong and see your own faults, so it is important that we are all willing to listen to rebuke and take it seriously.

In our self-absorbed age, we always want to retort with this question: What if the person rebuking us is mistaken or has made a poor judgment? If the rebuke is wrong, then eventually that will come out. But there is absolutely no harm with respectfully listening and hearing what the other person has to say. This is even more important if the person rebuking you is older than you are. They have been around the block a few more times and know things you do not, so shut up and listen. If they are wrong, then that will be resolved.

That is a rare case though, which is why we should listen respectfully. If we are being rebuked by someone who loves us, most of the time that rebuke will be correct. This is because those who love us want what is best for us, and therefore they want us to not engage in behavior or have an attitude that is destructive to us. They do not want us to neglect doing things that will benefit us mentally, emotionally, spiritually or physically.

We can benefit a great deal if we open our ears and close our mouths.