Can I Help You?

Can I help you? Rather, can you be helped?

Plutarch wrote:

Some young men indeed there are of a contrary disposition, who having undergone one rebuke fly off without ever looking back, turn renegades, and quite desert philosophy. These being naturally very modest have a good disposition toward an healthful habit of mind, but vitiate it by too much tenderness and effeminacy, which disables them for bearing a reproof or manfully submitting to a correction, and run after more pleasing harangues,wherewith some flatterers and Sophists soothe and bewitch them, without any benefit or advantage.

Learning our faults is necessary to growth. Ignoring our faults is necessary to remain foolish.

Reproof, though necessary, is most often avoided. Why? Because it can be painful before being helpful. Who are they who avoid reproof? The fool who is wise in his own imagination, the leader who follows his own pride, the spoiled child who demands his own way, and the sinner who loves darkness rather than light.

The Bible says,

My son, despise not the chastening of Jehovah;

Neither be weary of his reproof:

For whom Jehovah loveth he reproveth;

Even as a father the son in whom he delighteth. Proverbs 3:11-12.

And

Proverbs 6:23 (ASV): For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light;

And reproofs of instruction are the way of life:

Can you be helped?

Proverbs 15:31–33 (CSB): One who listens to life-giving rebukes

will be at home among the wise.

32 Anyone who ignores discipline despises himself,

but whoever listens to correction acquires good sense.,

33 The fear of the Lord is what wisdom teaches,

and humility comes before honor.

D. L. DeBord