The Problem with Talking to George (Proverbs 16:22)

There are two parts to correction. First: finding fault and pointing it out. Second: understanding the fault and fixing it.

"Understanding is a wellspring of life to him who has it, but to give instruction to fools is folly." Proverbs 16:22, Amplified

Correction always leads toward life. When I say life, I mean the better of two paths. There is the first path taken where the decision made is not the correct or best one. Correction comes and instructs the decider about the two choices in front of him. Instruction is similar to school teachers (or instructors) who grade papers. The red marks left in their wake are corrections to wrong decisions that were made by you on the paper. Those red marks now become a teaching aid so that you can study and find the correct answer or go to the source of the grading and ask why the answer was wrong. In either case, correction is designed to divert from wrong choices.

Fools are inherently foolish. To give instruction to a fool is not the best choice for anyone. There are those of us in this world who just do not want to listen to advice, instruction or correction. I had a friend named George. Most everyday he would come to me for instruction or advice for things going on in his life. The question would come and then I would present my answer. The response from George was always, "No, I do not think that is right." Now imagine hearing that every time advice is given. Finally I got tired of it and told him I would no longer give him advice and specified why. He begged and begged. So I gave in two days later and when advice was given, his response remained the same. Who was the foolish one in this scenario?

The point is, we need to know when to and when not to instruct, advise and correct. The religious leaders did not always accept Jesus' responses to their questions but Jesus never went around to subvert their authority. He was never on the attack. Jesus honestly answered and and all questions despite the motive behind it. Remember, the idea of correction is to move someone from wrong to right in love. Correction should always be covered n a blanket of love, otherwise it becomes a tool of superiority.