Disciplined

Read Proverbs 1:1-7, 22:17-21
 
Proverbs 1:2-3 The purpose of the proverbs is to teach people wisdom and discipline, to help them understand the insights of the wise. 3 Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just, and fair.
 
THE opening words of Proverbs tells their purpose: to teach wisdom and discipline and to live disciplined and successful lives. It is interesting Solomon used “discipline” twice.
   Solomon was using “discipline” in its meaning of instruction and precision. As we look back to our previous lesson, we remember how Wisdom is a central force of God’s creation and our own re-created lives in Christ Jesus. God’s wise creative power became reality because God was disciplined in his own rules. He established the way of a good universe. Then he precisely followed his ordered way.
   A wise, disciplined life is steadfast in line with God’s truth. Solomon wrote these proverbs to tell us what to know and how to live it. God’s gifted Wisdom Writer knew from experience how a lack of discipline would bring trouble and discouragement to his life. Although he had the wisdom to avoid the sexual temptations that harmed him, he was undisciplined, and he did not resist. Truth is useless when we lack discipline to live it. The world says there is freedom only in each person doing as he pleases. But the lack of discipline to submit to God’s authority is the true chain that binds us to empty lives.
   This is true in each aspect of our lives. For example, an undisciplined life can affect our economics. One may be prone to waste money on useless or addictive things. The undisciplined heart is never satisfied. The desire for more and more material possessions destroys many families and marriages. The proverbs also speak against being lazy and unwilling to work. This undisciplined life causes people to rely on the disciplined workers for their survival.
   This is not God’s purpose. His purpose for your life is to know wisdom and have discipline to live safely and peacefully with God and one another.
   It’s really very simple: know the truth and live the truth. Understand God’s Word teaches you the truth in every area of life. Being disciplined to read, study, hear and live God’s Word will form in you a discipline to resist sin. Pay attention to what God is telling you. It is for your wisdom and discipline. Proverbs 12:1 To learn, you must love discipline; it is stupid to hate correction.