The Reproof Of Life!

      “The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise.” Proverbs 15: 31.

      Reproof is rebuke, censure, or blame directed at a person to chasten him. Reproof may be mild and friendly, rebuke is sharper, censure is more severe. Reprimand is formal reproof, as for carelessness or poor judgment. Reproach expresses personal hurt or displeasure.

      God could have made us and put us directly into heaven if he had wanted to, but he didn't. Instead, God created us and placed us on planet earth to receive a course of instruction that would enable us to live successfully in heaven.

      Life on earth is our schoolmaster that teaches us the contrast between godliness and ungodliness, righteousness and sin, heaven and hell, truth and falsehood. God has given us a choice of roads to walk – the broad way that leads to destruction, or the narrow way which leads to life. Life on earth teaches us of the grace and mercy of a loving heavenly Father, and teaches us of the all sufficient grace of God. Life on earth teaches us of the penalties of sin and the reward of righteousness.

      Like any student in any school, we make many mistakes, but one purpose of a school is to teach us how to correct our mistakes and not to repeat them. Life reproves us when we disregard the physical laws of nature. We reap the results, for example: if we disregard the laws of nature which govern our health, we get sick and this ought to be a reproof or a lesson for us. We ought not to have to repeat that same mistake again. Likewise, when we disregard the spiritual laws of life we reap the results. For example, God is teaching us that he is the source of our entire being, and when we neglect to come to him as our source and pray and study his word, we grow weak in faith and power with God, and we lack wisdom for our lives, and we forfeit the peace\ and joy that could be ours.

We ought to profit from our experiences in life. All through our lives, time after time, God has brought us through perilous times and tribulations, but we have always been over comers through him who loved us. We ought to learn that God will not allow his own children to suffer want or go unattended. God says that if we will learn these lessons from life, he counts us among the wise.

      “The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise. He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding. The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; and before honor is humility.” Proverbs 15: 31,32,33.