"Happy Is The Man Whom God Corrects"
(Job 5:17)
This is a hard beatitude for many to accept. Nobody likes to be corrected, but we all need correction at times. The Bible clearly points out man's sinfulness (Rom. 3:23). Even the Christian needs to recognize he is not without sin (1 John 1:8). Like the Apostle Paul, none of us have arrived at perfection but we must make it our goal (Phi. 3:12-15). Our prayer should be:
Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting (Psa. 139:23-24)
Correction may come in many ways. The government is "God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil" (Rom. 13:4). Parents are responsible for the correction of their children, to "bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord" (Eph. 6:4). Christians are to correct one another (1 The. 5:12-22). The Scriptures are profitable for correction (2 Tim. 3:16-17). Trials in life are for correction (Heb. 12:3-11).
Recognizing God's correction we are able to look for the blessing. Correction keeps us from sin (Jam. 5:19-20), gives us understanding (Pro. 15:32), perfects us (Jam. 1:2-4; Rom. 5:1-3), produces holiness and righteousness in our lives (Heb. 12:10-11), teaches us humility (2 Cor. 12:7-10) and dependence upon God (2 Cor. 1:8-10) and prepares us for eternity (Jam. 1:12). When God corrects it is not without purpose, but that which makes a man truly happy.
Robert Dodson
©2000 Robert Dodson. Permission granted to use this article in any manner, as long as: 1) the content is not changed and 2) the name of the author is left on the article.
Free Bible Correspondence Course
Thanks For Visiting
Our Email Address is
©1999, 2001 Birdville church of Christ