Learning by the Whip

(Prov 26:2 NLT)  Guide a horse with a whip, a donkey with a bridle, and a fool with a rod to his back!

This morning we cotinue our series entitled, “Unlocking the Power of Proverbs – Walking in the Wisdom of God.”  This is not the first time we hear something from Solomon along these lines.  Back in chaptehr 10 Solomon said, “A rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding” (v.13).  In chapter 19 he said, “The irreverent have to learn reverence the hard way; only a slap in the face brings fools to attention” (v.29).  The main point of all of this is that some people don’t learn until they experience something truly painful.

In “Mental Toughness for Success” Dr. I.V. Hilliard shares what he calls the “DARE Method for Change.”  DARE stands for:

1. Decide:  Decide what you want to change and what you want to look like after you have changed.
2. Associate:  Associate real pain with your old behavior.  This is the key and it is basically what we are talking about today.  If someone does not associate real pain with their old behavior, they will never truly want to change.
1. List the worst possible thing that could happen if you do not change.
2. List the best possible thing that can happen if you do.
3. Recall:  Recall the experiences that have kept you down in the past.  Until you deal with your past defeats, you may never change.
4. Envision:  Envision yourself as the “totally new” you; like your mentor or model.  Who do you want to be like?  Getting a vision for a “changed you” is important, because you will never become the person you can’t SEE yourself becoming.  You must SEE it to BE it.

Dr. Hilliard’s second point (Associate) is what directly applies to this message.  Some people simply can’t associate (mentally) pain with their actions, so they have to experience (physically) the pain for themselves.  And many of us – good natured believers – attempt to rescue our friends and family from the pain, not knowing that we we may very well be helping them remain in their flawed state.  Sometimes you have to allow a hardheaded and stiffnecked person to experience the pain generated by their actions, even though it may be painful for you as well, just so they can develop the DESIRE to change.

So what does this mean to you today?  A few things:

1.  Sometimes a truly painful experience is required for someone to see the error of their ways.

2.  Hardheaded, stiffnecked, and foolish people are compared to the horse and the donkey; they are so brutish, unreasonable, unruly, and ungovernable that they must be driven by force to change direction.

3.  Sharp correction is the only language some understand.  It’s not until they experience true pain that they will be able to learn from the wisdom of soft lips.

Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for Your divine wisdom.  I embrace it willingly and regularly.  I declare, by faith, that I am willing to change.  I do not require the sting of the whip or the cutting words of sharp correction to change, because I am willing to listen to the soft words of wisdom daily.  I decide that I want to change.  I associate real pain with my old behavior.  I look back to learn the lessons of the mistakes of my past.  And I get a vision of what I will look like changed.  I am able to SEE the new me and that vision shall become a reality, because I work with, and not against, You.  I am continually being changed and transformed into the image and likeness of Christ!  In Jesus’ name.  Amen!

This is Today’s Word!  Apply it and Prosper!