Love Through Discipline

Show Love Through Discipline

Prov. 19:18, NLT
Discipline your children while there is hope. If you don’t, you will ruin their lives.

Prov. 22:15, NLT
A youngster’s heart is filled with foolishness, but discipline will drive it away.

Prov. 22:15, NKJV
Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of correction will drive it far from him.

Prov. 13:24, NKJV
He who spares his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him promptly.

Prov. 13:24, NLT
If you refuse to discipline your children, it proves you don’t love them; if you love your children, you will be prompt to discipline them.

Prov. 29:17, NLT
Discipline your children, and they will give you happiness and peace of mind.

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I think, oftentimes, when Christians think of disciplining their children, they associate it with giving them the rod. Giving the rod is certainly a part of discipline, but it should not be the only way. If there is not order in the home, how can we expect a rod to correct something in our children’s lives? Think about it…What is discipline?

My online dictionary defines discipline as: (noun) “the practice of training people to obey rules or a code of behavior, using punishment to correct disobedience; activity or experience that provides mental or physical training; a system of rules of conduct; (verb) – to obey rules or a code of behavior, using punishment to correct disobedience; train oneself to do something in a controlled and habitual way.”

Some of the synonyms are training, teaching, instruction, routine, drill, order, authority, regimen, direction, self-control, self-discipline, self-restraint, keep in check, bring into line….

To me, discipline is a consistency in a particular arena
of life that we may or may not want to do.

Discipline is something I believe we lack as a society. We do not want to take the time or feel the pain in order to get better at anything. Instant gratification is the rule of the day. Taking time to achieve something and being disciplined about it is certainly not celebrated. Our school’s standards have been lowered tremendously. Our children do not know how to read, write, spell or do math because we do not want to instill the disciplines that were formerly used to educate them. Instead, all students are put on an equal level and everyone is celebrated for something. They are also promoted to the next grade when they have not achieved it.

Our children are fat because of a lack of discipline. Our children do not achieve because of a lack of discipline. Our children are disrespectful because of a lack of discipline. It is not their fault. IT IS OUR FAULT!

In the Chinese culture discipline is the mandate, but the pendulum swings far to the other side for them. We need to bring the pendulum back to center. Routines should be established in our households with our children from the time they are little. We have to train them to read God’s Word, memorize the bible, clean up after themselves, help with chores around the house, eat right, exercise, read books, be respectful, have conversations with people, have time limits on the computer, television, phone, etc. … We have to teach them how to do what is right in God’s sight and during the process have fun with them. Even while doing difficult chores, you can enjoy one another’s company. Being disciplined together will build camaraderie. They may not like it while it is taking place, but they will thank you for it when they get older.

Proverbs 13:24 tells us that disciplining our children is the proof we love them.

I am sure most of us do not associate discipline with love. Having discipline in your life and in your children’s shows you care, but it cannot be without some flexibility and fun. The tallest buildings in the world have an 8 foot plus sway in them so the building does not crack from the wind. As we discipline we are showing that we are willing to pay a price for the future of our children. The blessings of discipline outweigh the cost. In the long run, the prize of discipline is far greater than the price.

Love your children and yourself through discipline.