How to Despise Yourself

Scripture Reading: Proverbs 15:31-33

The ear that listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise. Whoever ignores instruction despises himself, but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence. The fear of the LORD is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor.

Being corrected by another person is a hard pill to swallow. We choke can easily choke on it. A lot of people simply refuse to listen to corrections. That is a mistake. I heard someone say once, “Never fear a critic when they are wrong about you, but never ignore them when they are right.” That’s good advice. The hard part is being humble enough to honestly consider whether or not they are right or wrong about you.

This proverb encourages us to listen to life-giving reproof. To do so will have the outcome of finding yourself numbered among the wise and growing smarter. It will mean a life of honor. But honor follows humility and one of the characteristics of humility is being able to listen to our critics.

You aren’t helping yourself by ignoring instruction. It is actually and act of self-despising.