Brush Your Teeth

(Proverbs 15:32 KJV)  He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.

I like the NASB better on this one.  It speaks to me.

(Proverbs 15:32 NAS77)  He who neglects discipline despises himself, But he who listens to reproof acquires understanding.

I like to believe that I am not the only one who will sometimes be too tired to focus and go to bed without every item of personal hygiene taken care of.  It could be as universal a “discipline” (4148) as brushing your teeth.  It could be as specific as applying a medication.  It happens.  That is not the issue here. 

This is about the person who puts off washing their hair until it is smelly and itchy.  This is the person who scrubs the toilet and never washes their hands before they make a sandwich.  Eventually it is going to catch up with you.  At the moment you don’t care.  When the inevitable happens, you will.  When you can’t even climb a flight of stairs without panting you will admit that you should be exercising.  But you don’t change.

This person “despises” (3988a) himself.

So?  There is a time when self-sacrifice is the noble thing.  There is a time when it is sick.  Although I am not a disciple of self-esteem, I know there is a certain healthy self regard that is important.  I show it by my discipline.