Giving and Receiving Correction (Part 2)

In my previous blog, I began to outline a wonderful example given to us in Scripture that deals with how to give and receive correction well.

The way Aquila and Pricilla sought to address Apollos (Acts 18:26) offers A Lesson About Applying Correction.

Had they approached him differently in their attempt to correct him, Apollos may have responded in a negative manner.

But because they applied correction well, Apollos received it well, and thus gives us two more lessons regarding correction.

A Lesson About Accepting Correction

When I preached through this passage, I asked the congregation to raise their hands if they enjoyed being corrected.

You probably wouldn’t be surprised to learn that not a single hand went up.

Why is it that we so strongly resist being corrected?

A number of factors come into play, but primarily we resist it because accepting it is an admission that we were wrong about something. And how many of us like to admit we were wrong?

Aside from plain old sinful pride that causes us to resist correction, I’ve observed, generally speaking, that those who are highly educated, gifted, and passionate seem to have an even more difficult time being corrected.

Interestingly, Apollos possessed all those qualities, and more, yet the text in Acts 18 indicates no pushback from him whatsoever when Aquila and Pricilla sought to offer him guidance.

Apollos didn’t bristle in defense and say, “Well, Aquila and Pricilla, who are you to judge me? I bet you’re not perfect, so what gives you the right to straighten me out?”

Apollos clearly possessed a teachable spirit.

Consider the following passages that illustrate the importance of receiving correction and having a teachable spirit:

“… rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. Give [instruction] to a wise [man], and he will be yet wiser…”(Proverbs 9:8-9).

“He [is in] the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth” (Proverbs 10:17).

“Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof [is] brutish” (Proverbs 12:1).

“The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise. He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding” (Proverbs 15:31-32).

Over and over again in the wisdom literature of our Holy Scriptures, we read of how foolish it is to reject correction, but how beneficial it is to receive it.

The more I study and grow in the Lord, the more I come to know how much I don’t know, and it would be the height of arrogance for me to get the idea that I don’t ever need guidance or correction.

Even the most faithful servants of God from time to time had to receive correction.

Moses was corrected by Jethro (Exodus 18:17), Peter was corrected by Paul (Galatians 2), David was corrected by Nathan (2 Samuel 12), and here, Apollos was corrected by Aquila and Pricilla.

Is it always pleasant? Of course not.

But can it be biblical? Absolutely.

Now, that doesn’t mean that all correction people offer is warranted or Biblical, and it takes some discernment on our part when accepting correction.

But we should avoid the kneejerk reaction to defend and dismiss the correction as out of hand, and we should be introspective and really consider what’s been said.

And as with all things, we should test what’s been said against Scripture, while asking the Lord to search us and reveal our hearts and thoughts and reveal to us if we are out of line in any way. (Psalm 139:23-24)

If in that process, the Lord shows us we needed that correction, then we should receive it well like Apollos, and then make whatever changes are necessary.

A Lesson About Appropriating Correction

“And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace: For he mightily convinced the Jews, [and that] publicly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ” (Acts 18:27-28).

Receiving correction well doesn’t end by simply being willing to listen to counsel, but actually appropriating it, and letting it move us in the right direction.

What good does it do if someone corrects us, and we are even in agreement with them, but we don’t allow it to effect a change?

Have you ever corrected your children, and they agreed and said they understood, only to find them later doing the same thing you just corrected them for?

We expect that to be the case with little ones in the child rearing process, but often we as adults do no better.

What good would it have done if Apollos had listened attentively to Aquila and Pricilla, even agreed with them, but then went to Corinth and continued preaching and teaching as he had before?

Apollos would have been of no benefit to the Corinthians if he hadn’t applied what he learned from Aquila and Pricilla. In fact, he would have done more damage than good and made a mess for someone else to have to straighten out later.

But he didn’t do that.

Not only did he accept the correction, but he appropriated it, was changed by it, and thus, had a dramatic effect on those Corinthians he began ministering to.

Again, correction is not pleasant. Sometimes, it can even be painful, but it is often necessary.

And if the correction is valid, we need to take it as from the Lord, and by His strength, make a change.

And if we do, not only will we be better equipped in our service for the Lord, but everyone around us will benefit from it as well.