Importance of openness to Correction, Learning, & Growth

Are you able to learn, take correction and do you appreciate it?

Any true believer will embrace any believer coming alongside them to point out something or to caringly correct them esp in the area of sin. It gives the believer a chance to consider what was said, pray on it and see if there is truth to it so they can correct and grow in holiness. It shows that believer cared enough to come see you. That is a believer you can have good feelings about and appreciate. 🙂

If offense is taken among the brethren when truth is shared as lovingly and gently as possible, the issue is with the hardened heart of the offended party, not the believer who is attempting to godly helpfully advise, educate or correct as Scripture says to.  It only seems offensive if you are prideful and not correctable. A believer should desire, be grateful for, and embrace being called out on error or sins, out of love, in order to grow in holiness, in truth, and to keep short sin accounts. 

Proverbs 9:8: "Do not reprove a mocker, lest he hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you."

Proverbs 12:15: "The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice."

Proverbs 15:12: "A scoffer does not love one who reproves him; he will not go to the wise."

Proverbs 15:31: "The ear that listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise."

2 Timothy 4:2: "Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and exhort, with complete patience and teaching."

2 Timothy 3:16-17:

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Ephesians 4:29: "Let no corrupt word come out of your mouth, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."

Proverbs 27:6: "Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses."

John 13:34-35: "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

Ephesians 5:21: "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ."

Galatians 5:13: "For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another."

1 Peter 4:8: "Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins."

1 John 4:7-8: "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love."

Romans 13:8-10: "Owe no one anything, except to love one another, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. [They] are summed up in this one word: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law."

1 Corinthians 13:4-8: "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails."

Philippians 2:3-4: "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others."

Colossians 3:12-14: "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."

James 5:19-20: "My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins."

Correction is a sign of God's love and discipline, whether from God or believers whom God uses (like Nathaniel to David) and we should joyfully embrace it as an opportunity to grow in wisdom and holiness.

Additionally, the apostle Paul himself experienced correction from God on multiple occasions (Acts 9:1-9; 2 Corinthians 12:7-10). He teaches us that correction is a necessary part of the Christian life, and that we should be humble and willing to receive it. And Apollos received correction too.

Here are some of the benefits of receiving correction:

It helps us to grow in wisdom and understanding. When we are corrected, we are forced to confront our own shortcomings and areas where we need to improve. This can be a painful process, but it is essential for our growth as Christians.It helps us to become more like Jesus Christ. Jesus was the perfect example of humility and submission. He was always willing to listen to feedback and to correct his mistakes. When we receive correction in a humble and teachable spirit, we are following in Jesus' footsteps.It helps us to build stronger relationships with others. When we are willing to receive correction from others, it shows that we value their opinion and that we are committed to building a healthy relationship with them. It also creates a safe space where we can share our thoughts and feelings honestly with each other.

If you are struggling with receiving correction, remember that it is a gift from God. It is an opportunity to grow in wisdom, holiness, and character. Embrace it with a humble and teachable spirit, and you will be blessed.

These verses teach us that love is not just a feeling, but it is also a choice. We choose to put aside pride (from the flesh) and love others (in the new spirit) even when it is difficult or when we feel offended. We choose to love others because God loves us first, and enabled us to do so.

I hope this encourage you to love one another deeply and unconditionally, even where there is current disagreement. When we grow in faith in all areas we are blessed for it.

I hope whenever something, whether education, correction, exhirtation, adminishment or calling you out on something, you will not get offended, not jump to conclusions, not play a victim, not get upset, but go to God in prayer and go to the Word and search the matter with an open heart & correctable spirit to examine yourself. God mightve brought that person to you to show you something you didnt realize, and to bless you and it will help you grow in faith and holiness. 

Related topic

The Seriousness of Sin