We’re talking about discipline on my previous post, right? And it’s one of the important things that a blogger should have to succeed in blogging, and not just in blogging for everything we’re doing under the sun.

I have here another article from the Pasugo-God’s Message Magazine. I will copy everything and include the article on this post. Read it and digest the thoughts contained on it and I know you’ll be enlightened because these are not just based on man’s knowledge and wisdom but with the inspiration of God’s words written on the Holy Bible.

This article is owned by the Iglesia Ni Cristo, but I failed to ask again their permission in embedding it here on this post. In other words, I’ll remove it from this post.

– Pasugo article starts here –

Title: The Value of Discipline
Writer: Brother Ruben D. Aromin

One need not think too hard to realize the value of discipline. We can easily imagine how chaotic societies could be without discipline. Laws and regulations set by the proper authorities to function as a guide in the proper ordering of things would only be meaningless and useless if people are undisciplined.

Take the case of the 32 avid backcountry skiers in North America who have recently met their death because they were unmindful of the increasing occurrence of avalanches and even ignored the boundaries set by resort operators, the countless fatal accidents on the streets just because someone wanted to beat the red light, the improper disposal of garbage causing damage to the environment and leading to the spread of diseases that claim the lives of many, and the list goes on. All of these could have been avoided had these people valued discipline.

In the same way, if law enforcers themselves are without discipline, they cannot implement the law effectively. Implementors who do not respect the law cannot inspire people to obey or follow it. Likewise, without discipline instilled in them, people would neither be propelled to respect the laws nor to live by them.

The Bible thus emphasizes the value of discipline in our life through this command:

“Get wisdom, discipline and understanding.” (Prov. 23:23, New International Version)

The Bible encourages us to acquire, aside from wisdom and understanding, discipline as it is one of the things that we need in order to live a meaningful life. As it is, discipline is essential for it is beneficial to all of us.

Lexical meaning of discipline

To fully appreciate the value of discipline, it is important that we first understand exactly what it is. The dictionary gives us various definitions of the term discipline:

“discipline (dIsIplIn) n. 1. training or conditions imposed for the improvement of physical powers, self control, etc. 2. systematic training in obedience. 3. the state of improved behaviour, etc., resulting from such training. 4. punishment or chastisement. 5. a system of rules for behaviour, etc. 7. the laws governing members of the Church.” (Collins Webster Contemporary English Dictionary)

Discipline, as can be deduced from this definition, is the key to an improved and polished behavior and good manners. More importantly, the resulting outgrowth, obedience, is an essential characteristic a person should possess in serving God. A disciplined person exhibits self-control and polished and refined manners. Discipline therefore must be coveted for if one loves discipline, he also loves knowledge as underscored by the Bible:

“Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge.” (Prov. 12:1 NIV)

The love for discipline and knowledge essentially go together. If a person has discipline, he is more than likely knowledgeable. No one who values discipline fails to acquire knowledge. In fact, it is the person�s discipline that dictates him to pursue knowledge and to escape from ignorance. Those equipped with knowledge tempered by discipline not only know good from evil or right from wrong, but also pursue that which is good and right while veering away from evil and wrong.

Where success and failure lie

The lack or the absence of discipline may spell failure not only in this life, but also in the life to come. In Apostle Paul’s letter to the Christians at Corinth, he showed how important discipline is in attaining success:

“Surely you know that many runners take part in a race, but only one of them wins the prize. Run, then, in such a way as to win the prize. Every athlete in training submits to strict discipline, in order to be crowned with a wreath that will not last, but we do it for one that will last forever.” (I Cor. 9:24-25, Today’s English Version)

Apostle Paul draws a parallelism between succeeding in a racing competition and attaining the crown of life. Athletes especially have to submit themselves to strict discipline in order to win in a competition. If those participating in a race for a prize that perishes are willing to submit themselves to strict discipline in order to succeed, the more that those desiring to attain eternal life must have discipline in order to attain the crown “that will last forever.” Indeed, aside from God’s guidance and power, discipline is needed for a person to obey the words of God, the very key to attaining eternal life. Moreover, Apostle Paul also stresses the value of discipline in influencing and inspiring other thus:

“But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.” (I Cor 9:27, New King James Version)

Apostle Paul implied that for one to be able to influence others effectively, he should set a good example. Apostle Paul said that he disciplined himself so that he would not be disqualified in teaching others. In his statement, we can glean that a person who is disciplined has self-control. Apostle Paul also showed here that self-discipline is an important characteristic of an effective and dynamic leader, and in this aspect, ha had set himself as a good example.

Inculcating discipline

The Bible shows the importance of discipline in the ordering of one’s life especially if this is learned in early childhood. This is the reason parents should not neglect disciplining their children. If discipline is inculcated in their children early, they would someday bring great delight to their parents as is underscored in this verse thus:

“Disciple your son, and he will give you peace; he will bring delight to your soul.” (Prov. 29:17, NIV)

Children reared in discipline will not be a headache to their parents, but are the kind whom parents can be proud of. Parents should then take a stock of themselves whether they have inculcated in their children the proper discipline. If they have fallen short in this responsibility, their children will most likely turn out to be a problem to them instead of a delight.

What makes a man who he is depends greatly on his discipline. However, the kind and amount of discipline to be taught and applied should be appropriate to the type of person concerned and on a case-to-case basis. For instance, what kind of discipline does a person need who has been led astray? The Bible gives us this guide thus:

“Stern discipline awaits him who leaves the path; he who hates correction will die.

“The evil deed s of a wicked man ensnares him; the cords of his sin hold him fast. He will die for lack of discipline, led astray by his own great folly.” (Prov. 15:10; 5:22-23, ibid.)

A person who has been led astray into the wrong path needs to be disciplined sternly for him to learn his way back to the right path. If he doesn’t heed correction and refuses to renew his life, then he is on his way to death. Aside from this, what else is the misfortune that will surely befall those who neglect or don’t pay attention to discipline and, on the other hand, what fortune awaits those who know how to heed correction?

‘He who heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.

“He who ignores discipline comes to poverty and shame, but whoever heeds correction is honored.” (Prov. 10:17; 13:18, Ibid.)

Not only is a person who ignores discipline heading to his death, he may also suffer poverty and shame long before he dies. On the other hand, one who heeds correction is heading toward life. He will be honored for influencing others to follow the path or the way to life. We have heard of stories of people who once enjoyed material riches but ended up in poverty because of lack of discipline. They had lived their lives in wild abandon and wanton spending. Before they knew it, their riches were already gone and they found themselves in heavy debt. Their success easily vanished into thin air because they had forgotten the value of discipline which, in the first place, had a great part in bringing them to their once successful position. Indeed, there are countless stories about people whose lives ended up in ruin due to the absence of discipline or even just the lack of it.

After all is said and done

Regrets, as they say, always come at the end. How many people have expressed regrets because they did not realize early on the importance of discipline? How many have admitted with resignation their folly of ignoring discipline that resulted in untold misfortunes? They cry over lost opportunities and wasted chances, all because they didn�t learn the value of discipline and its correction. The following words from the Bible vividly capture the usual reaction of people who, on hindsight, have discovered that their sad lot has been brought about by their refusal to heed discipline:

�At the end of your life you will groan, when your flesh and body are spent. You will say, �How I hated discipline! How my heart spurned correction! I would not obey my teachers or listen to my instructors. I have come to the brink of utter ruin in the midst of the whole assembly�.� (Prov. 5:11-14, Ibid.)

The absence or the lack of discipline brings about disastrous, if not fatal results. Although the acquisition of discipline needs some discipline itself, discipline begetting discipline, anyone striving toward this noble goal will be amply rewarded. King Solomon, the wisest king of Israel, repeatedly underscored in his proverbs the importance of discipline in life. In fact, many of his wise sayings are intended for the acquisition of a disciplined and prudent life:

�The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: for attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight; for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair.� (Prov. 1:1-13, Ibid.)

It can be safely said that behind every success of a man is a disciplined life. A life without discipline is aimless, purposeless, and meaningless. This will lead to nowhere but ruin or destruction. King Solomon fittingly sums up the benefits the servant of God can get from learning to value discipline and following its corrections:

�For these commands are a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the corrections of discipline are the way of life.� (Prov. 6:23, Ibid.)

Source: Pasugo- God�s Message Magazine, pages 9-11, April 1999, Volume 51, Number 4

– Pasugo article ends here –

I hope this article truly helps you attain your success.

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