DISCIPLINE – PART 3

DISCIPLINING CHILDREN

EVEN CHILDREN OF GODLY PARENTS REQUIRE SPECIFIC ATTENTION AND TRAINING.
His father, King David, had never disciplined him at any time, even by asking; What are you doing? Adonijah was a very handsome man and had been born next after Absalom. -- 1 Kings 1:6 Elohim fearing people like David and Samuel were used by YHVH to lead nations; nevertheless, they had problems in family relationships. Elohim fearing leaders cannot take for granted the spiritual well-being of their children. They are used to having others follow their orders, but they cannot expect their children to manufacture faith upon request. Moral and spiritual character takes years to build, and it requires constant attention and patient discipline. David served YHVH well as a king, but as a parent he often failed both YHVH and his children. Don’t let your service to YHVH, even in leadership positions, take up so much of your time and energy that you neglect your other Elohim-given responsibilities.

CHILDREN NEED LIMITS FOR THEIR OWN GOOD.
Because David had never interfered by opposing or even questioning his son, Adonijah did not know how to work within limits. The result was that he always wanted his own way, regardless of how it affected others. Adonijah did whatever he wanted and paid no respect to YHVH’s wishes. Undisciplined children may look cute to their parents, but undisciplined adults destroy themselves and others. As you set limits for your children, you make it possible for them to develop the self-discipline they will need to control themselves later. Discipline your children carefully while they are young, so that they will grow into self-disciplined adults.

CAREFUL DISCIPLINE IS AN EXPRESSION OF PARENTAL LOVE.
If you refuse to discipline your children, it proves you don’t love them; if you love your children, you will be prompted to discipline them. -- Proverbs 13:24 It is not easy for a loving parent to discipline a child, but it is necessary. The greatest responsibility that YHVH gives parents is the nurture and guidance of their children. Lack of discipline puts parents’ love in question because it shows a lack of concern for the character development of their children. Disciplining children averts long-range disaster. Without correction, children grow up with no clear understanding of right and wrong and with little direction to their lives. Don’t be afraid to discipline your children. It is an act of love. Remember, however, that your efforts cannot make your children wise; they can only encourage your children to seek YHVH’s wisdom above all else!

DISCIPLINING CHILDREN IS A PAINSTAKING RESPONSIBILITY.
To discipline and reprimand a child produces wisdom, but a mother is disgraced by an undisciplined child. -- Proverbs 29:15. Parents of young children often become weary of disciplining them. They feel like all they do is nag, scold, and punish. When you’re tempted to give up and let your children do what they want, or when you wonder if you’ve ruined every chance for a loving relationship with them, remember-kind, firm correction helps them learn, and learning makes them wise. Consistent, loving discipline will ultimately teach them to discipline themselves.

DISCIPLINE IS AN UNAVOIDABLE PART OF RESPONSIBLE PARENTING.
Now a word to you fathers. Don’t make your children angry by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction approved by Elohim. -- Ephesians 6:4 The purpose of parental discipline is to help children grow, not to exasperate and provoke them to anger or discouragement -- see also Colossians 3:21. Parenting is not easy; it takes lots of patience to raise children in a loving, Moshiach-honouring manner. But frustration and anger should not be causes for discipline. Instead, parents should act in love, treating their children as Yeshua treats the people He loves. This is vital to children’s development and to their understanding of what Christ is like.

THE BIBLE GIVES DIRECTIONS FOR CARING DISCIPLINE WITHIN THE CHURCH.
How terrible that you should boast about your spirituality and yet you let this sort of thing go on. Don’t you realize that if even one person is allowed to go on sinning, soon all will be affected? -- 1 Corinthians 5:6. The church must discipline flagrant sin among its members-such actions, left unchecked, can polarize, and paralyze a church. The correction, however, should never be vengeful. Instead, it should be given to help bring about a cure. There was a specific sin in the church, but the Corinthian believers had refused to deal with it. In this case, a man was having an affair with his mother -or stepmother- and the church members were trying to ignore the situation. Paul was telling the church that it had a responsibility to maintain the standards of morality found in YHVH’s Word. YHVH tells us not to judge others. But He also tells us not to tolerate flagrant sin because it is a dangerous influence on other believers -- 5:6.

OUR RESPONSE TO DISCIPLINE WILL DETERMINE HOW MUCH WE BENEFIT FROM IT.

We may respond to discipline in several ways:
1 -- we can accept it with resignation.
2 -- we can accept it with self-pity, thinking we really don’t deserve it.
3 -- we can be angry and resent YHVH for it; or
4 -- we can accept it gratefully as the appropriate response toward a loving Father.

YHVH IS MORE LOVING AND DEMANDING THAN ANY PARENT.
YHVH is not only a disciplining parent but also a demanding coach who pushes us to our limits and requires our life to be disciplined. Although we may not feel strong enough to push on to victory, we will be able to obtain it as we follow Moshiach and draw upon His strength. Then we can use our growing strength to help those around us who are weak and struggling.