In Proverbs chapter 1 Solomon begins by giving the purpose for writing the Proverbs. (Prov 1:2) Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline, to help them understand the insights of the wise.” It’s interesting that he puts wisdom and discipline together. Discipline can be defined in a couple different ways.
- Discipline for doing wrong… discipline for correction.
- Discipline to live right… the discipline of exercise, or the discipline of prayer. Godly disciplines for living godly lives.
So, the question is, which discipline is he talking about? Proverbs 1:7 we see the 2 together again, “The fear of the Lord is the foundation, the anchor, the bedrock of true knowledge. BUT, fools despise wisdom and discipline.” I guess you could take either meaning in that passage as well.
Hebrews 12 talks about the value of discipline.
- Hebrews 12:6 “The Lord disciplines the one he loves.”
- Hebrews 12:11 “all discipline seems painful at the moment, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who will be trained by it.”
There seems to be a connection between our perspective on the value of discipline in our lives and whether we are going to be wise or a fool. The wise see discipline as training, and seek the greater reward of peaceful fruit which is righteousness. Fools despise discipline.
Proverbs 1:30-31 we see it come up again. “They rejected wisdom’s advice and paid no attention when I corrected them, therefore they must eat the bitter fruit of living their own way, choking on their own schemes.
A person who is living for the greater reward, will experience the fruit of wisdom which is the peaceful fruit of righteousness. This produces living in peace, untroubled by fear of harm (Proverbs 1:33). It’s also the opposite of living your own way. In contrast, the fruit of fools who despise wisdom and discipline is bitter living, choked by their own schemes, living their own way.
Proverbs 2 brings out some more benefits of living according to wisdom from God
- Proverbs 2:7 He grants the treasure of common sense
- Proverbs 2:7 He is a shield to those who walk with integrity
- Prov 2:10 wisdom will enter your heart and knowledge fill you with joy
- Prov 2:11 Wise choices will watch over you, understanding will keep you safe.
- Prov 2:16 Wisdom will save you from the immoral woman, for the seductive words of promiscuous woman.
May we learn to see discipline (both corrective and exercising personal discipline) as training by which God wants to produce fruit of peaceful, righteous living. Embrace it! By embracing His discipline, you will learn common sense, you’ll be walking in integrity and your heart will be filled with joy. I am praying for God’s wisdom for you today.