Articles
A Father's Discipline
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My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD,
Nor detest His correction;
For whom the LORD loves He corrects,
Just as a father the son in whom he delights.
(Prov. 3:11-12)
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This admonition follows a lengthy list of character traits that, if followed faithfully, promise a long and happy life: respect for authority (v. 1-2); mercy and honesty (v. 3-4); love of God (v. 5-6); humility (v. 7-8); and generosity (v. 9-10). The message of these preceding verses is simple: do well, and life will go well. Got it.
But in the next two verses, the author throws us a curveball: Part of a life well-lived is the willingness to accept what he calls "the Lord's discipline." In the New Testament (Heb. 12:3-11), this passage is used as the starting point for a larger excursus on dealing with trials--which is another way of saying, life doesn't always go the way we expect it to, even when we've done everything right. Life is not a cosmic vending machine that dispenses goodies in response to our payment. Sometimes bad things happen to good people.
That aspect of brokenness in our world troubles a lot of folks. It's easy to become cynical, even bitter, when life is unfair. But the author likens these distressing experiences with a father's discipline: it's painful in the moment, but in the long run, it's for our good. Without these discomforts to test our fortitude, we become soft, spoiled, and self-centered. The rough edges of life are not fun to endure, but we are better people because of them.
That's a great concept in theory, but theory provides scant comfort in the face of heart-wrenching tragedy. How can two parents possibly see the hand of God in the kidnapping and murder of their little daughter? What good can thousands of people ever find in the fiery crash of an airliner that snuffs out the lives of hundreds of loved ones?
There are no easy answers to these mysteries. But if we reject God when these grievous blows rock our world, what do we have left to fall back on? Our souls will become shriveled with bitterness, consumed by a resentment that slams the door on any hope or joy. By treating the chastening of the Lord with contempt, we will descend deeper into a darkness that will devour us.
Whatever life throws at us, we must arm ourselves with the conviction that God is still in control, and someday the twists and turns of this life will all make sense. In the meantime, our task is to take on the adventure with courage, and allow God's chastening to shape us into better people.
--David
