Discipline and Obedience

          In my devotionals today my thoughts are turned to Proverbs.  Although John 11 is one of my favorites as Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead, my thoughts are turned to the discipline of Proverbs.  I guess this is heavier on my mind as I struggle myself with this subject and thinking of all those New Year’s resolutions that will be broken this month because people are not disciplined enough to carry them out myself included.

          I think this all starts out early in our life as we begin to develop as a child.  We hate being told what to do because we are very selfish and want what we want when we want it.  I think that is why you see over and over again in the bible verses such as this:

Proverbs 15:5 A fool spurns a parent's discipline,
but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.

          This is not a new problem only unique to our lifestyle here in the United States today.  We just finished up with Christmas, a holiday that is supposed to be the celebration of the birth of Christ.  It has become a very materialistic holiday where the stores put everything they can into this one holiday which means even setting up their displays for this day as early as October.  Sure we love to give others gifts, but we love to receive them just as much.  We have become a very selfish society and are not obedient to anyone not even ourselves when we know something to be good for us.

Proverbs 15:32 Those who disregard discipline despise themselves,
but the one who heeds correction gains understanding.

          In the New Year one of the biggest resolutions is to lose weight.  I cannot tell you how many magazines and books on weight loss and fitness I have seen sitting on the shelves of book store and checkout lines.  The funny thing is why is this such a big desire and again another moneymaker for the industries that work in this area?  As a whole America is one of the biggest societies (no pun intended) with an over weight problem.  A problem that leads to other major health issues that could kill us.  All this because we lack discipline.

Proverbs 15:10 Stern discipline awaits anyone who leaves the path; the one who hates correction will die.

Of course we have excuses for not sticking to our resolutions, “I just do not have the time.” “It is too hard to get this done the way I intended.” “I am not seeing the benefits that I thought I would.” “I am not feeling like doing that today, maybe I will just catch up on it tomorrow or the next day.”  The problem is the next day never comes.  Ever wonder why it sounds so good when you first say I am going to lose that weight, yet when it comes down to it you just cannot get it done?  Perhaps this verse can shed some light on that idea.

Proverbs 15:19 The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns,but the path of the upright is a highway.

          We have to learn to bow down to the grace that is the Lord and view disobedience for what it is, SIN.  When we put ourselves first before anyone else including Christ we do not honor Him. We have to understand as John the Baptist saw it.

          John 3:30 He must become greater; I must become less."

         

          We have to learn what humility is before we can ever learn to be obedient.  If we do not become humble, we will not be obedient and if we are not obedient we will never be disciplined.

Proverbs 15:33 Wisdom's instruction is to fear the Lord, and humility comes before honor.

          Obviously this does not happen over night it takes time to build that discipline which will honor Christ.  Start off small at first and once you see that you can accomplish the little things then you can move on to the bigger things.  It is all about honoring Christ, but if you are feeling that belittles you to do that you will never make it there.  We have to adopt an attitude such as the apostle Paul did.  One of my favorite sayings of his is this.

Philippians 1:21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

So for that New Year’s resolution that you have made, do it for the glory of Christ.  If you do not feel that it is really something that will honor Him then find a new one that will.