Live a more disciplined life, and listen carefully to words of knowledge."
The word discipline here, is the Hebrew
word mucar, Strongs #4148, it
also translates as chastisement, correction, warning and instruction
[1]. The first occurrence is in Deut. 11:2: “… I speak not with
your children which have not known, and which have not seen the
chastisement of the Lord your God, his greatness, his mighty hand,
and his stretched out arm.” [2]
Discipline and learning wisdom are tied
closely together. Proverbs 8:33a says, “Listen to discipline, and
become wise.” It is by discipline that we learn wisdom as we
learn to fear the Lord.
Proverbs 15:32-33 says, “Whoever
ignores discipline despises himself, but the person who listens to
warning gains understanding. The fear of Yahweh is discipline
leading to wisdom, and humility comes before honor.”
In Proverbs 1:2, Solomon says the
proverbs are given “to grasp wisdom and discipline, to understand
deep thoughts, to acquire the discipline of wise behavior...”
“We lack your wisdom and
understanding” sings in the background
Over and over, the proverbs speak of
embracing discipline. Proverbs 4:1 says, “Sons, listen to your
father's discipline, and pay attention in order to gain
understanding.”
Hating discipline results in
foolishness and lack. Proverbs 5:23 says that the wicked “will
die for his lack of discipline and stumble around because of his
great stupidity.”
We are to embrace discipline as a
treasure. Proverbs 8:10-11 says, “Take my discipline, not silver,
and my knowledge rather than fine gold, because wisdom is better than
jewels. Nothing you desire can equal it.”
We are not only to embrace it but to
love it. Proverbs 12:1 says, “Whoever loves discipline loves to
learn, but however hates correction is a dumb animal.”
At the same time we are to love and
embrace it, seeking it out – it is most often associated with some
pain. There are many verses of discipline being associated with
some sort of pain in Proverbs:
Proverbs 13:1, “A wise son listens to
his father's discipline, but a mocker does not listen to reprimands.”
Proverbs 13:18, “Poverty and shame
come to a person who ignores discipline, but whoever pays attention
to constructive criticism will be honored.”
Proverbs 13:24, “Who refuses to spank
his son hates him, but whoever loves his son disciplines him from
early on.”
Proverbs 22:15 “Foolishness is bound
in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far
from him” (Prov. 22:15)
The words “reprimand, criticism,
spank, rod” all speak of some form of pain.
Hebrews 12:11 says, “For the time
being no discipline brings joy, but seems grievous and painful; but
afterwards it yields a peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who
have been trained by it [a harvest of fruit which consists in
righteousness –in conformity to God's will in purpose, thought, and
action, resulting in right living and right standing with God].”
I think of times where words that
someone was saying in truth cause me pain. At the same time, they
were said in love in order to correct me. While it was humbling and
felt painful, the result was that I learned different behaviors that
were more fruitful. In the end, I appreciated them for having the
courage to be honest.
Proverbs 17:10 says, “A reprimand
impresses a person who has understanding more than a hundred lashes
impress a fool.”
While there is some pain associated
with discipline, it is much more burdensome for those who are off
track and not following the Lord.
Proverbs 15:10 says, “Discipline is a
terrible burden to anyone who leaves the right path.” And for one
who continues to listen to discipline after many warning results in
immense pain. Proverbs 29:1 says, “A person who will not bend
after many warnings will suddenly be broken beyond repair.”
The result for someone who fails to
every learn and embrace discipline is poverty and shame (Proverbs
13:18).
Discipline while painful, is a
wonderful gift when given to someone you are about. The purpose is
not to cause them pain but help them to grow. We use it with the
people we care about most. To fail to discipline when we see it is
needed is to fail to love.
Proverbs 19:18 says, “Discipline
your son while there is still hope. Do not be the one responsible
for his death.”
Discipline can come in three main
forms:
The first form is self-discipline. We
need self-discipline to grow more like Christ. Discipline of self
includes things like making daily time to spend with God (spiritual
disciplines), exercising regularly (physical disciplines), and
reading (mental disciplines).
Paul says in
Acts 24:16, “Therefore I always exercise and
discipline myself [mortifying my body, deadening my carnal
affections, bodily appetites, and worldly desires, endeavoring in all
respects] to have a clear (unshaken, blameless) conscience, void of
offense toward God and toward men.”
Discipline is a form of training oneself so we have more capacity and
keeps us from getting off track. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 9:25-27,
“Now every athlete who goes into training conducts himself
temperately and restricts
himself in all things. They do it to win a wreath that will soon
wither, but we [do it to receive a crown of eternal blessedness] that
cannot wither. Therefore I do not run uncertainly (without definite
aim). I do not box like one beating the air and
striking without an adversary.
The second form of discipline comes
from others in our lives. An example of this kind of discipline is
when parents discipline children. They determine consequences for their children for certain actions.
They are to go to bed at 8:00 pm every night and if they fail to,
they receive a nap time the next day when they would usually watch
their favorite show on TV.
Discipline of this sort is to be enough
to help them realize their actions or behaviors that were not
beneficial but not so much as to not cause them to rebel, become
embittered and discouraged, or create fear and intimidation. Harsh
or too strong of discipline may result in conformity in behavior but
it does not change someone's heart long term or help them to repent.
Ephesians 6:4 says, “Fathers, do not
exasperate [provoke to anger or rebellion] your children; instead,
bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” And
in Colossians 3:21 Paul says, “Fathers, do not embitter your
children, or they will become discouraged.”
The third form of discipline comes
directly from the Lord. The Lord disciplines us as His sons (1
Corinthians 11:32; Hebrews 12:6). Like a good Father, His
discipline comes from a place of love and with a desire for us to
repent and change our hearts. God, like a good Father, He gives us
discipline enough to help us change but not to create fear, rebellion
or embitterment.
Proverbs are filled with examples of
warnings of actions that often lead to God's discipline (including
natural consequences). Dishonesty, quick to anger, laziness,
adultery, gluttony, greed, gossip, despising ones neighbor, cruelty,
gullibility, arrogance, thinking one has the answers, talking too
much, cursing ones parents, hurrying all the time to get somewhere,
etc. all are sins that end it foolishness, shame and dishonor when
done without any restraints.
An example is someone who refuses to
put themselves on a financial budget. They continually spend beyond
their means. When they run out of money, they use credit cards.
The natural consequence that comes out of this is a sinking feeling
and worry as they begin to realize that they are over their heads
financially. Then some unexpected expenses may come into their
life. Because they failed to discipline themselves in spending, they
suddenly are in a financial crisis that is causing them great pain.
They may even have to file bankruptcy which results in poor future
credit ratings.
A more severe financial example is
someone with a gambling problem. They spend beyond their means for
gambling and get over their heads. It not only impacts them but
those they love. Maybe at first they receive some discipline as family members and friends confront them about their problem. But then as they continue down that path and refuse
discipline, the results are sometimes loss of a marriage and/or loss
of their assets such as their house and retirement account.
God works all things to the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28). When we go down a path of foolishness, while we will experience painful consequences, God will meet us in them and work them for our good. He takes our messes and makes something beautiful from them when we invite Him in to help us.
However, all unfortunate circumstances that just happen do not necessarily mean God is disciplining us. When God disciplines us, it is in love for our good. While there might be some pain involved, the purpose is to help us to change.
He does not lash out in wrath against
us out of anger. His purpose is not to exasperate, destroy or
embitter us. When we believe that at any moment we may go too far
and the hammer will come down on us, we begin to conform out of fear.
We are not transformed out of true repentance and love. How can we
trust someone who ultimately has a large hammer over our head that
could fall at anytime if we go too far? We live in the fear of
disaster when we think God could at some point unleash His wrath on
us.
He already showed us what it looks like
to deal with our sin when He sent His son to the cross to pay the
price for it. There is no sin that was left out or too high of a
price for His Son to pay.
Lord, I can see how I have despised
wisdom rather than embrace it on several occasions. I have resented
people who have provided me with discipline. And I find myself
wanting to run from it because it is painful and I want to avoid it.
But I realize that then I fail to grow and learn what I need from it.
Forgive me.
Help us to have a heart the fears you
and loves and embraces discipline.
2. Vine, W. E. ; Unger, Merrill F. ;
White, William: Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New
Testament Words. Nashville : T. Nelson, 1996, S. 1:123
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