# 408 The Proverbs – ‘A manual for living’ (MSG). Proverbs 3:1-12 The benefits of discipline.  

Do you want to live longer or maybe even jump higher? The John Hopkins Medicine website suggests these four basics:

1. “Do not smoke.
2. Maintain a healthy weight.
3. Get up and move.
4. Make healthy food choices.”    https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/4-top-ways-to-live-longer

All good advice! 

Proverbs though has some other suggestions which may well be even more valuable advice if you not only want a “long” life but rather a truly satisfying life lived in the way God created you to live. Listen to what the author of Proverbs suggests under the heading in the NIV “Wisdom Bestows Well-Being.”

 My son, do not forget my teaching,
    but keep my commands in your heart,
² for they will prolong your life many years
    and bring you peace and prosperity.

³ Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
    bind them around your neck,
    write them on the tablet of your heart.
⁴ Then you will win favor and a good name
    in the sight of God and man.

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
⁶ in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight.

⁷ Do not be wise in your own eyes;
    fear the Lord and shun evil.
⁸ This will bring health to your body
    and nourishment to your bones.

⁹ Honor the Lord with your wealth,
    with the firstfruits of all your crops;
¹⁰ then your barns will be filled to overflowing,
    and your vats will brim over with new wine.

Goldsworthy writes:

“Proverbs emphasizes the connection between wise behaviour and the achievement of a long and productive life.” Then concerning 3:2 he writes about peace and prosperity, “The Hebrew word used is shalom (‘peace’) and refers to harmony of relationships and wholeness, including health (see v 8). This comes from the understanding of God’s creation purposes and the recognition that his blessings are experienced in this physical world.” (# 53)

But then follows some very interesting verses. The author has mentioned a life of peace and prosperity, of earning a good name, of experiencing God making your paths straight, of living a healthy life, and even being blessed abundantly in your life generally. All sounds great, so why now talk of the Lord’s discipline as follows?   

¹¹ My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline,
    and do not resent his rebuke,
¹² because the Lord disciplines those he loves,
    as a father the son he delights in.

If you happen to be interested in the Olympic Games, then you will be watching the benefits of “discipline” for the athletes, which includes an incredible amount of training, practice and sacrifice on their part to enable them to compete at this very high level. But there is another type of discipline and that is revealed by the words the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.

The author of the book of Hebrews in the NT quotes these verses in chapter 12:5-6, further explaining their meaning. He says:

⁷ Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? ⁸ If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. ⁹ 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! ¹⁰ 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. ¹¹ 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. (Hebrews 12:7-11)

“Discipline from God is loving and aimed at our ultimate good.” (# 53) 

Note the words which describe the motivation for God’s discipline in verse 12 – the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.

Sadly, we all know that if everything ‘goes our way’ (e.g., peace and prosperity, good health and wealth), then we are more likely to also ‘go our own way’ and forget to apply verses 5-6 (trust… lean not… submit). It is these times we need the Lord’s loving discipline.

Commenting on these verses, Keller adds that another “mark and means of wisdom has to do with adversity and trouble in life. Often a generous heart and life can lead to increasing financial prosperity (3:10). But verses 11-12 show this is by no means an absolute rule… The mark of wisdom is to be ready for suffering. If you aren’t, you aren’t competent with regard to the realities of life. But suffering is also a discipline for growth in wisdom.” (# 51)

Accepting the hardships that come our way is not always easy, but Jesus is our supreme example of how it is done as the author of Hebrews explains:

And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Hebrews 12:1-3)