Chronological Reading Plan for June 6, Prov 13-15

Today's readings are Prov 13-15. Tomorrow's are Prov 16-18.

We see a number of words used repeatedly in these chapters. Instruction, discipline and righteousness are some of the most frequently used. 

Recognizing this type of pattern or repetition can help us string these wise sayings together to detect an overall theme. There seems to be a summary of sorts in Prov 15:32-33.

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

We all know people, perhaps we are at times ourselves those people, who hear the word of the Lord and choose to ignore it, folks who choose to disregard the wisdom found in Proverbs. Whether it be pride, stubbornness or a misguided feeling in the heart, many of us turn our backs on wisdom and sound biblical teaching. We justify this by convincing ourselves that our situation is uniquely set apart from what God says. Or, His words don't apply to us. Perhaps we believe that God didn't know what we would have to go through. A really great  tactic for this type of self-justification is to find a phrase or isolated verse that seems to agree with our position and claim that God permits, perhaps even endorses our anger, a particular sin. a lack of forgiveness or simple, outright rebellion. 

Yet, the Scripture tells us that whoever ignores instruction, instead of edifying himself, despises himself. Those who embrace it become smarter. That awestruck reverence for who God is and how He relates to us, the fear of the Lord, actually teaches us His wisdom. 

The humble admission that we may actually have something to learn about ourselves and our God has to come into our lives and plant itself in our hearts before we will be honored with his wisdom and the fullness of His blessing. Those that believe there is nothing to be learned in every situation they find themselves in will continue to struggle.