12:1 – Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid.
Hmm… He can’t be talking about, can He?
Although I read all of Chapter 12 this morning, this is the verse that screamed, “This means YOU!”
Reading this, I realized Solomon is talking about two different aspects of the learning process:
- ACQUIRING the information.
- APPLYING the information.
Think about the frustration parents have with their teenagers. They know a lot of stuff; they just don’t apply what they know.
It’s the same with coaching associates or team members at work. They know what needs to be done; they just don’t DO what needs to be done.
I have lots of books on my shelves (I was going to say tons, but in all actuality, it’s probably just hundreds of pounds). And, I love them. I loved buying them; I loved reading them. Those books provide a lot of “wisdom,” which I dispense for the edification of other people.
In reading this verse, I realized that while I may love knowledge, and I love instruction, I still hate correction – when it applies to ME!
It doesn’t matter where the knowledge or instruction comes from – books, personal observation, revelations from God – or how much of it we have accumulated.
We are still stupid if we are not making the corrections WE know we need to make.
