When was the last time you thanked God for His faithfulness to send reproof into your life? Being on the receiving end of reproof can be a difficult thing. However, our passage teaches us that the way we respond to reproof is an indication of our wisdom or foolishness. Why is it so difficult for us to hear that we need improvement in our lives? We would all confess that we are sinners, but for some reason we have difficulty facing up to the specific sins we commit on a daily basis. The Bible is clear as to why we naturally hate reproof; it is our pride. We want people to think highly of us; we want to always be right; we do not want to be corrected by someone who is also in need of correction; and the list could go on and on. Do you want to grow in wisdom? Learn to look at yourself as you really are. An attitude that would balk at reproof is not consistent with one who has been set free through the gospel of Jesus Christ. To minimize our sin is to minimize the cross. If our sin is no big deal, then the cross was an overreaction. To respond to reproof in humility, is to exalt Christ and the work of the cross in your life.