“At the end of your life you will groan, when your flesh and body are spent. 12 You will say, “How I hated discipline! How my heart spurned correction! 13 I would not obey my teachers or turn my ear to my instructors. 14 And I was soon in serious trouble in the assembly of God’s people.” Proverbs 5:11-14
I’ve always skated by doing the bare minimum relying on talent to take me everywhere without any real drive or discipline. In high school I missed more class than I attended, showing up only to take tests and quizzes, get a good grade and then disappear again. The same was true for college and eventually work. I thought I knew everything and school was pointless because I “knew” the material…I didn’t realize that in many ways it was character building and learning how to show up on time and be reliable.
Because of my lack of discipline from a young age it manifested itself in my adult life over and over again and certainly did not help my alcoholism. I knew everything and everyone else was the problem….I was wrong. Already I look back on my life and groan…had I not bucked the system….had I just listened to what my teachers and elders and even God was trying to teach me…I could have had so much more. One of my biggest fears is looking back on my life and it being a waste…it was actually even on my 4th step fears list. I’m coming to realize however any life I live in which I’m not receptive to God is a waste because as I’ve said before the creator of the universe is the beginning of everything…without that power source it seems unlikely for a mere man to accomplish anything of positive consequence.
It seemed to me that Solomon was specifically talking about adultery in this proverb and how it would cause regret later but it seems apparent that it encompasses any action by a human being that has it’s roots in pride, ego and self-will…relying on one’s own understanding and talent instead of using God’s gifts properly…which to me is discipline.
-Talent is a God given gift. Discipline is following God closely enough to use those talents the way they were intended and not as a way to cheat the system or further self will and look down on others. After all, the root of the word “discipline” is “disciple”….to follow.
Trying to Keep it Real with Mickey…
One Day at a Time
Pastor Gary Byers
Deputy Director