The Bible Column - Are You Receiving Instruction or Rebelling?
“Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction.” Proverbs 24:32
“Withold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.” Proverbs 23:13
The book of Proverbs is a book of learning. In reading its pages, an individual can advance in the ways of their life through yieldedness to its training, or decline as a result of rejection of its eternal truths.
The Scriptures above tell of the two ways in which each of us receives training along life’s way. The first way is found in the first Scripture above and is the easier way to learn, both for ourselves and those around us. This way has been called “Training by Word” and is the simple process of seeing, considering well, looking, and then receiving instruction for proper direction for our lives. This simple axiom deserves our solid and sincere observation as the premier way to advance in our lives. Many times we bypass this wonderful way of learning!
In the second Scripture above we learn of the way of learning through hardships. This way has been called “Training by Rod”. The reference in the second Scripture above, gives this principle for childhood. In a very real way this type of training extends throughout life for the times in which “Training by Word” is rejected. In this Scripture, the word “beatest” tells of a strike that gets the attention of the one needing to learn. In our lives, a loving parent and the loving Father in Heaven, seeks to get our attention for learning when we resist the easier and best way.
In this process of learning, each of us must decide in which way we are going to submit to the requirement of learning. The annals of life’s success stories are filled with those who have chosen to learn through “Training by Word”. In like manner the halls of the justice and penal systems are building with those who have rejected “Training by Word” and have entered into the only remaining method of “Training by Rod”.
May you and I today, whether younger or older, purpose to learn the easier way. May the Word of God in the Bible be our central source for information.
Thanks for reading today!