new years resolution pt 1-discipline

December 30, 2010

..discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness (1 Timothy 4:7b, NASB)

I really like this verse and it brings to mind two very important things.

One, that we are to discipline ourselves; it is not a question of 'if', but it is a command. Discipline often has a very negative connotation to it; we think of it as a result of doing something bad. But discipline is also a positive concept in that it is through discipline that we have true freedom and enjoy blessings to their fullest. Now, this is quite a weird concept if looked at from a secular perspective. Discipline? As a means to freedom? That sounds very counterintuitive because discipline is often associated with restraint, and secular thought has taught us that restraint does not equal to freedom, but rather limitations.

Our society has taught us that we should have what we want, when we want it, and however we want it. Is this not what commercials tell us all the time? And are the results not being seen everywhere in our society? Not only can it be seen by an increase in spoiled children who seem to command their parents around, but it can be seen in adults who satisfy their stomachs beyond 'enough', who fall prey to their alcoholic inclinations, who cannot control their emotions (anger, lust, greed, etc) but are rather controlled by them, etc. Just recently there was this discussion over a marriage story posting in NY Times of this couple who met each other while they were both still married with their own respective kids, and they were celebrating how they just couldn't "deny their feelings and live dishonestly" and so had both left their families, and are now getting married to each other. Not being able to 'deny their feelings'... we've become people mastered by our emotions, with little to no self control and discipline. Society praises satisfying our desires and wants, because that is what it defines freedom to be, and everyone wants to be 'free'. We've become people who indulge ourselves too much in the pleasures this world has to offer, while starving and shutting out the inner yearnings for a higher calling and life.

God's thoughts and God's ways are much higher than ours, and as expected, they are very different and completely opposite of what our little minds think of. As portrayed throughout the Bible, it is through discipline that freedom is obtained. One example is in marriage. Discipline in marriage allows you to enjoy the blessings that marriage brings to its fullest and greatest extent. Did not God, the Creator of all pleasures and enjoyments, create marriage to be one man and one woman enjoying and serving each other, God, and people? And so would it not then be in that model that we can enjoy marriage to its fullest extent? Therein lies discipline- the discipline to not commit adultery, to not selfishly demand of all of one's own needs at the expense of your spouse, the discipline to grow in love and commitment for one another through the ups and downs. Another example that I often hear of- driving a car. If you want to really drive a car, then you'll have to be disciplined in following the street signs, the traffic lights, the road lines, etc. You cannot do however as you please and drive whenever and wherever you want on the road. Through these daily examples we see that God has intended that it be in discipline that we truly gain freedom and truly experience the blessings and pleasures he has intended for us. So we see, discipline is a command, not a suggestion, and it is a command that brings much blessing, as do all of God's commands.

Second, what is the ultimate goal of discipline? Godliness. Freedom, blessings, enjoyments are all the byproducts of discipline I believe, but according to God's word, the purpose of discipline is not for freedom, blessings, outer appearances of holiness, etc, but for true godliness.

...what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives (2 Peter 3:11)

"Everything is permissible"--but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"--but not everything is constructive. (1 Corinthians 10:23)

We are called to live holy and godly lives. How are we to do so? Through discipline and self control; discipline in the words we speak (Prov 10:19), in the restraining and controlling of our anger (Prov 19:11, 16:32), in not doing evil (Prov 1:15), in our thoughts (2 Corinth 10:5), and of course the active disciplines of reading the Bible, praying, fasting, meditating, solitude, giving to and serving others, reading other books on testimonies, Biblical insights, etc.

Discipline isn't the easiest thing to learn especially when we've become so accustomed to letting our desires wander and be satisfied whenever they so call. But God has given us a spirit of discipline and self control (2 Timothy 1:7), and since we have that spirit, we must exercise it and willfully allow it to transform us into disciplined people. We know the things we ought to be disciplined in, particularly in reading our Bibles, praying, spending time with God, etc., but we often put it off- we make excuses, we procrastinate.

Many studies over the years have shown you tend to have time-inconsistent preferences. When asked if you would rather have fruit or cake one week from now, you will usually say fruit. A week later when the slice of German chocolate and the apple are offered, you are statistically more likely to go for the cake. ... This is sometimes called present bias – being unable to grasp what you want will change over time, and what you want now isn’t the same thing you will want later. ... Present bias is why you’ve made the same resolution for the tenth year in a row, but this time you mean it. You are going to lose weight and forge a six-pack of abs so ripped you could deflect arrows. ...One day you have the choice between running around the block or watching a movie, and you choose the movie. (great article)

Spiritually, we have time-inconsistent preferences and present bias as well. Every year/day/month/week, we say we'll read the Bible more, we'll pray more, we'll really spend more time with God, and every moment where the choice comes up between spending time with God and sleeping in/watching a movie/hanging out with friends/surfing facebook/shopping/chatting, etc., we choose putting off time with God and we resolve to do it 'tomorrow.'

I pray that this year I will learn more discipline that God may transform and grow me even more this year in holiness and faithfulness. I am resolved to be disciplined in my words- to not harm others, but to build others up. I am resolved to be disciplined in my thought life- to meditate day and night upon God's laws (Psalms 1:2) so that the devil will have no stronghold in my mind and to think positive, Bible-based thoughts. I am resolved to be disciplined in taking care of my spiritual, mental, and physical health -to be discerning in the things I watch and the things I listen to and to sleep at earlier times. I am resolved to be disciplined in my times with God- to not be distracted in thoughts and actions, to spend more time in the presence of God, and to actively choose to spend time with God when tempted to indulge in other things to pass the time. I pray that in all things, we will aim to be spiritually disciplined people, that we may grow in godliness and passion for God, and that we may reap the spiritual blessings and fruits that God so readily gives to those who seek to gain them through obeying His commandments.