“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For through me your days will be many, and years will be added to your life.” (Proverbs 9:10–11, NIV)

There’s a phrase there in those words that has always attracted me with a peculiar kind of attraction. It’s the phrase, “the knowledge of the Holy One.” Somehow, that pictures to me a place in fellowship and relationship with God where we come to know God as He really is. And when we come to know God in that way, we find, indeed, He is the Holy One.

Holiness is an attribute of God that is not really shared in the same degree by any of His creatures. I believe that the ultimate end of life is to know God, the Holy One. I believe, in knowing God, there comes wisdom and there comes also the temporal blessings of life, but it has to be in the right order. We don’t pursue the blessings, the temporal, but we pursue the knowledge of the Holy One.

And then he says to us: “Through me your days will be many and years will be added to your life.” Make that your aim – make it your aim to know God. Jesus said, “This is life eternal, that they might know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent.” Out of that knowledge flows life, life in abundance, life for time and life for eternity.

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This is Derek Prince with a word for you from the Word.

“Whoever corrects a mocker brings on insult; whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse. Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you. Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning.” (Proverbs 9:7–9, NIV)

Nothing sorts out people more sharply and more quickly than their reaction to reproof and instruction. If a person gets angry when he is reproved or instructed, the Bible says he is a mocker. It says he is a wicked man. But if a man is righteous, when he is reproved and instructed, he will be grateful, he will respond with love, he will ask for more.

This poses a question for me that I often face up to and I think each one of us needs to face up to it from time to time. How do I personally react to correction and reproof? Do I get angry? Do I want to answer back? Do I want to throw it away and say, “That isn’t right, it isn’t fair! I don’t deserve that”? I hope not. I hope you don’t react like that.

Remember that your reaction to correction and to reproof is going to clearly indicate your character. If you get angry, you reject it. Then you’re a mocker, you’re a wicked person. I’ve seen this is true in life. Beware of a wrong reaction to correction.

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Wie een spotter bestraft, laadt schande op zich, en wie een goddeloze terechtwijst, draagt zijn schandvlek. Wijs een spotter niet terecht, anders zal hij u haten. Wijs een wijze terecht, en hij zal u liefhebben. Geef onderricht aan een wijze, en hij zal nog wijzer worden, onderwijs een rechtvaardige, en hij zal inzicht vermeerderen. (Spreuken 9:7-9)

De manier waarop iemand reageert op berisping en terechtwijzing, is de beste indicatie van zijn karakter. Als iemand kwaad wordt als hij berispt wordt of een terechtwijzing krijgt, dan is hij volgens de Bijbel een spotter. Een goddeloze. Maar een rechtvaardige zal dankbaar zijn als hij berispt en terechtgewezen wordt; hij zal reageren in liefde, hij zal

Word from the Word

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