Proverbs 13:18 (ESV)
Poverty and disgrace come to him who ignores instruction,
but whoever heeds reproof is honored.
The purpose of the wisdom literature was to provide instruction and discipline in the way of wisdom. Following Solomon's instruction would keep the traveler on the correct path and in the right way of Fearing The Lord. So, the above proverb continues with this theme by outlining what happens when we reject discipline. The word for discipline appears over 50 times in the Old Testament and most of those occurrences are in the book of Proverbs. To put yourself under discipline is the preference of God. God loves to discipline us because He loves us. He wants the best for us. His Word teaches us that if we love discipline, blessings will follow. If we reject His discipline we are neither acting as sons, or trusting Him as sons. If we reject the disciplines of life we can expect both poverty and shame. Not only will we have nothing but we will be in a place where the feelings of shame grip us. However, when we embrace discipline and regard reproof, or correction in our lives we can expect to be in a place of honor. The feelings of honor trump the feelings of shame. One comes from embracing discipline and the other comes from rejecting it. Shame is such a difficult emotion to overcome. We can't overcome it on our own. People attempt to cover their shame by accumulating wealth. That wealth gives them status and, in the world's eyes, covers their shame. However, outward wealth can't cover the pain of inward shame. We buy things to "cover" our shame; to look different than we see ourselves. We want to create a "new look". Those who neglect the discipline of the Lord are doing this every day. But, those "regard" (the Hebrew word for "keep" or "guard") the reproof they get (embracing and learning from correction) will find that they don't need wealth - and, yet, will be honored with position, property, power and prestige.
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