Growing in Self-discipline

MEMORY VERSE: “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.” —Hebrews 12:11

I CORINTHIANS 9:24-27

THE Lord chastens his people. This does not necessarily imply punishment, but rather, discipline. It is a part of their training in obedience, for they are being prepared for exaltation to the divine nature, to live and reign with Christ, and they must demonstrate their wholehearted love for the Lord, and unreserved obedience to his will, regardless of the experiences through which they are called upon to pass. Happy are those who accept joyfully the disciplinary experiences through which the Lord permits them to pass.

As our memory verse reminds us, these experiences in themselves are not joyous, but we should be able to count them joy when we realize their purpose in our lives. It is not always possible to recognize the meaning of our experiences while we are passing through them, but as Paul asserts “afterward,” when we see that they have yielded “the peaceable fruits of righteousness,” we can rejoice.

Those who discipline themselves are less likely to be disciplined by the Lord. Paul was one who did this. He reveals in the context of our lesson the fact that he had worked to provide for his physical sustenance even though the law of God provided that a servant of the Lord was worthy of his hire. (Acts 18:1-4) This was calling upon his body to do more than the Lord required, but Paul was glad to do it, for he felt that it would make his ministry of the Gospel more effective.

Paul explains that he had become all things to all men, that he might win some. This does not mean that he compromised his position before the Lord, or that he ever went contrary to his own enlightened conscience. But all the Lord’s people have certain preferences as to the way they live, and how they serve. So far as the Lord is concerned, he doubtless would be just as pleased with other methods. But Paul was willing to give up his own preferences to please others. This was self-discipline, and revealed his thorough devotion to the Lord and great desire to help others see the way of the Lord more perfectly.

Paul uses two illustrations in making his point—running in a race, and fighting, or as we would call it today, prizefighting, pugilism. Those who run and fight in these worldly contests have to be temperate in all things if they hope to win. They must discipline themselves, doing without many things which are ordinarily quite proper. “Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown,” Paul wrote; but we “an incorruptible.”

There was nothing indefinite in the way in which Paul lived his Christian life. He did not “run” “uncertainly,” nor did he “fight” as “one that beateth the air.” He kept his body in subjection, he said, “lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”

I CORINTHIANS 10:12, 13, 23, 24, 31-33

WE CANNOT afford to be self-assured concerning our standing before the Lord. The best we can do is to put our trust in the Lord, realizing that he will give us strength for our every time of need, and will not permit us to be tested above that which we are able to bear. It is wonderful to have this assurance!

In our walk in the Christian way we are to remember that it is a course of love, of unselfishness. We are not to seek our own advantage in the various situations of life, but the good of others. To do this does indeed require a large measure of self-discipline.

We are to be on the alert not to give any cause of offense to those with whom we come in contact, whether they be “strangers” to the faith or those who may be associating themselves with us in the church. Our chief concern for those with whom we associate is that they might be brought ever nearer to the Lord.

QUESTIONS

Are the Lord’s chastenings necessarily designed as punishments?

Should the Lord’s people discipline themselves, and how can this be done?

What two illustrations of discipline did Paul use?

What does it mean to be “all things to all men”?

Should we be self-assured with respect to our standing before the Lord?

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