How NOT to Respond to Correction

Today's Three-minute Bible Study
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Title: How NOT to Respond to Correction ------------------- Date: 3/3/2003
Keywords: “correction”
Welcome to eXXit, the web site designed to help you stand strong in the face of sexual temptation.

Passage: 2 Chronicles 16:7-10*

7. At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him, "Because you have relied on the king of Aram and have not relied on the Lord your God, therefore the army of the king of Aram has escaped out of your hand.

8. "Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubim an immense army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet, because you relied on the Lord, He delivered them into your hand.

9. "For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His. You have acted foolishly in this. Indeed, from now on you will surely have wars."

10. Then Asa was angry with the seer and put him in prison, for he was enraged at him for this. And Asa oppressed some of the people at the same time.

Questions

This story, taken from the time of the Kings of Israel, illustrates how to not respond when someone points out that you did something wrong.

1. What does the seer (or prophet) Hanani identify as King Asa’s wrongdoing? (verse 7)

 

2. What was Asa’s response to this rebuke? (verse 10)

 

Practical help

From time to time we all receive feedback that is critical. Sometimes a friend will point out our misbehavior, or will tell us when we have been acting in an inappropriate way. Our response to that correction says more about us than we might realize.

King Asa imprisoned the prophet for telling him the truth! What does that tell us about King Asa? He should have thanked Hanani for pointing him back to the ways of God.

Have you ever had anyone put their finger on your shortcomings? Identify for you what needs to be changed? Called a spade a spade? What was your response?

Want some loving correction when it comes to porn? (thought so ;o} ). Viewing porn is a dead end street. There is no future in it and no benefit in it. It is foolish. It wrongs the people who are photographed. It cheapens your own sense of self-worth. It damages the testimony of God, and lowers the sensitivity toward sexual issues in your culture.

How will you respond to the loving correction offered at eXXit (or at any of a number of really great resources on the Web designed to help us all walk with the Lord?)

This writer knows full well the pull of temptation. I thank God for the friends who through the years have had the guts to speak the truth to me in love. When I have not listened, I have lost valuable ground to the enemy. When I have listened, I have benefited.

Please listen with an open heart to the correction of those who love you. Don’t be like King Asa of the Old Testament and rail against the message or the messenger. Receive the message for the truth you know it is.

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*"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, © Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission."