Reproof

Reproof is defined by Merriam Webster as “criticism for a fault”.

The Holy Bible defines reproof in scriptures. It is “blame expressed to the face; censure for a fault; reprehension.”

Proverbs 10:17, Proverbs 12:1, Proverbs 13:18, Proverbs 15:10 and Proverbs 29:1 describe the role of reproof in our lives.

Woody Allen paid millions of dollars for his mistakes, but he kept doing the same things. He is the poster child for stupid.

When you are reproved, what do you do?

Properly assess your failure. Failure is not an event in your life, it’s a judgment about an event in your life.

Learn on someone else’s nickel. It’s good to learn from your failure, but it’s better to learn from someone else’s wrongs. Interviews of 200 CFOs who failed, there is a 5 day course about why businesses fail. Some of the best learning comes from studying the things that go wrong. Its the way to build an effective life, as well.

Proverbs 24:30-34 tells us a story of someone in failure and what will happen.

I passed by the field of a sluggard……it was overgrown…fence was broken down….

32-34. When I saw… I looked..and received instruction.  little sleep, a little rest…..then your poverty will come as a robber…

The sluggard is an ordinary man who has made too many excuses, too many postponements…..as easy as falling asleep.

When you see someone fail in their marriage, their business, their life…don’t rejoice in someone else’ failure. Encourage them to learn from the situation and not repeat it. Share their experience with others to help someone else not suffer the same failures.