DISCIPLINE: What is a man? An alphabetical list to which every man should attain.

                                                                     What is a man?  

An alphabetical list of attributes to which every man should attain.  

D

Discipline (Self-discipline)

The word ‘discipline’ probably brings to mind one of two things: the spanking you got as a child or the strict regimen of a marine in training.  What value does discipline have in my every day life?  I’m not in the military nor am I under the constraints of my parents.  Doesn’t discipline imply restriction, limitations or being forbidden.  If you’ve ever tried to diet, this probably sounds familiar.  You’ve got to limit your food intake.  You can only eat at certain times of the day.  And some foods are absolutely forbidden.  Doesn’t sound very pleasant.  The discipline of exercise doesn’t sound much better.  Was it Arnold Shwartzenegger that said, “No Pain, No Gain.”  What about - “Sweat is Fat Crying”, “Feel the Burn”, “You can have results or excuses.  You can’t have both”, “When you’re giving up, someone is still going.”

Most of us are not motivated by negative slogans.  We never did like the image of the drill sergeant or coach yelling in our face to go faster, go harder and quit being such a baby.  So, what’s a positive view of discipline and how far reaching is it?  Can I be disciplined in one area of my life and slack in another?  And who really cares?  We know that a soldier has to be rock solid in his discipline.  On the battlefield, it’s a matter of life or death.  The athlete will get crushed without regular training.  Even the student must choose when to study and when to watch TV or fiddle with his phone.  I would like to suggest that discipline is not only appropriate for men of all ages, but essential.

The Apostle Paul said,  “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.  Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.  Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air.  No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”  This was a comparison of those who competed in the Olympic games with the follower of Christ.  It’s silly to think of a fat, lazy Olympian and it seems Paul is saying that it’s equally foolish to be a fat and lazy follower of Christ.  

The writer of Hebrews states, “Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all.  Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live!  They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness.  No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”

I used to walk down the halls of Hebron Presbyterian Church to the Day School.  Within 30 seconds of engaging a class of 6 to 8 students I could usually tell which child had healthy discipline at home and which ones ruled the roost.  And these children usually expressed themselves in rude, bossy and often inappropriate behavior.  The same even applies to our pets.  Someone once said that a disciplined dog is a happy dog.  I believe it also applies to our children and ourselves.  

We claim to like the freedom that we have to be our own man, but we often abuse that freedom by poor viewing habits, wasting time in unhealthy ventures, eating the wrong foods, and not taking time daily to engage with our Creator.  Actually, the reverse is true:  effective discipline results in freedom.  Look at the following Proverbs and discover for yourself the pros and cons of heeding discipline:

Proverbs 10:17, “Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life, but 

whoever ignores correction leads others astray.  

Proverbs 12:1, “Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever 

hates correction is stupid.” 

Proverbs 13:18, “Whoever disregards discipline comes to poverty and 

shame, but whoever heeds correction is honored.” 

Proverbs 15:32, “Those who disregard discipline despise themselves, 

                but the one who heeds correction gains understanding.” 

Finally, The description of an elder in Titus 1 ends with, “Rather, he must 

be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-

controlled, upright, holy and disciplined.”  

So what practical advice is there for a man today?  In biblical Christianity we proclaim that we are saved by grace and not by works, so the message here is not that we discipline ourselves so that we make God happy or earn our salvation.  It’s simply that if the Scriptures are correct then if I discipline myself in every area of my life, I will experience a profound joy beyond those who do not know Christ as their Savior.  And we have the added benefit of Christ working in us.  Ephesians 2:10 states, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”  

Questions:

1.    Where does your view of discipline come from?  Is it positive or negative?

2.   What areas of your life are you good at self-discipline and what areas still need  

      work?

3.   How can you imagine practicing self-discipline improving your life?   

May I suggest the following things:

1.  Basic exercise - If your work is not physically demanding, walk a mile a day.  Ten pushups every other day.  Ten sit ups every other day.

Benefits: Stronger bones, less chance of injury, cardiovascular health, endorphins activated producing better mental health

2.  Good nutrition - Eat the good stuff - vegetables, some meat, water.  If necessary reduce alcohol intake.

Benefits: Feel better, avoid cancer, better teeth

3.  Mental exercise - Read books - Watch less TV

Benefits: You become more interesting, avoid Alzheimers

4.  Spiritual exercise - Read Scripture everyday - Pursue purity = avoid lust, covetousness, greed

Benefits: Better marriage, clear purpose in life, develop wisdom

5.  Have an accountability partner

Benefits: Make better choices, deepen friendships

6.  Pursue Integrity - “Who are you when no one is watching?” - Honesty in all your dealings, Treating others as you would like to be treated.

Benefits: No secrets to hide, respect from those you live and work with