If You’re a Suffering Christian Read This!
“A rod and a reprimand impart wisdom, but a child left undisciplined disgraces its mother” Proverbs 29:15.
This verse is talking about the discipline of children, but I believe it can also apply to adults. Having said that, it is more difficult and less effective to endure discipline as an adult. We will revisit this idea a little later. To read this whole chapter in Proverbs, click here.
But, how do you know if what you’re suffering is God’s discipline or something else? Hebrews 12;7 tells us to “Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father?”
In other words, according to this verse, all hardship could be considered discipline. To learn more about this idea, check out God’s Discipline: That’s Life.
Dear Suffering Christian, The Rod of Correction Imparts Wisdom
If you are a suffering Christian, take heart! The rod of correction imparts wisdom, according to this verse. And with it wealth, long life, honor, a peaceful, pleasant life and protection. But don’t take my word for it. Proverbs 3: 14-18 has this to say about wisdom:
“Blessed are those who find wisdom,
those who gain understanding,
for she is more profitable than silver
and yields better returns than gold.
She is more precious than rubies;
nothing you desire can compare with her.
Long life is in her right hand;
in her left hand are riches and honor.
Her ways are pleasant ways,
and all her paths are peace.
She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her;
those who hold her fast will be blessed.“
Correct me if I’m wrong, but it sounds to me like there is no greater blessing or gift under the sun than wisdom. If this is true, we should rejoice and consider it pure joy when we are corrected.
If this promise is indeed true, then we should be willing to do whatever it takes at any cost to get wisdom. Even if it means going through hell and high water!
This explains why James 1: 2-4 tells us to “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
Correction Imparts Long Life, Honor. . .
The rod and reprimand impart wisdom. By implication, then, the rod and reprimand impart wealth, long life, honor, a peaceful, pleasant life and protection!
But, suffering Christian, keep in mind, this is a promise with a condition. The rod and reprimand don’t always and automatically impart wisdom. We must choose to be trained by it.
We must choose to yield to the correction with a sweet, submissive attitude. If we respond with anger or bitterness or rebellion or self-pity it will not impart wisdom. It will instead make us more foolish (and miserable).
No Greater Gift
If we lack wisdom, there’s no greater gift or blessing or expression of love than the rod of correction. If we understand and believe this, we will be able to respond with “an acceptance of all God’s dealings as good and therefore without resisting of disputing”.
This is what it means to be meek or gentle according to Vine’s Expository Dictionary of the NT. And according to Mathew 5:5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”
If we’re wise, we’re blessed. Or, if we’re foolish and willing to be corrected, we’re blessed. So, either way, let us rejoice in the God of our salvation!
Since the rod and reprimand imparts wisdom with all its attendant blessings, you could say that:
Pain brings pleasure
Humiliation brings honor
Suffering brings glory
The wilderness leads to the promise land and
Death produces life
Hebrew 12:11 tells us “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.” God’s ways are circular and tend toward redemption.
Dear Suffering Christian, The Rod of Foolishness Will Correct Us
If we are foolish, we will be corrected with the rod of our own foolishness. But this painful rod is a glorious opportunity to become wise. And escape the rod of correction that is applied to the foolish. And ultimately, to reap the glorious rewards of wisdom.
Here is the progression: Foolishness > Submit to rod of correction > Wisdom > Avoid rod and be blessed. Foolishness has the seed of blessing in it because it has a rod in it. If we humbly submit to the rod and reprimand, we’ll become wise and be blessed.
It’s important to note, as mentioned earlier that it’s much easier to be corrected as a child than an adult for several reasons. A child:
- Will have less to lose (the stakes aren’t as high)
- Has not been entrenched in foolishness as long as an adult
- Usually loves and trusts his parent who is doing the correcting. This makes it easier to take. (Let’s be honest, it’s not as easy to yield to an invisible, intangible God).
If you enjoyed If You Are a Suffering Christian Read This, you may also like If You’re Heart is Hard, You’ll Give Up When Life Gets Hard.
Although many of my posts are intended to motivate Christians to grow up so they can be blessed, that shouldn’t be our main reason for wanting to mature. Ultimately, everything we do as a Christian should be a response to what He’s already done for us.
From Foolish to Wise to Foolish Again
In fact, growing up and becoming wise is only the first step in the Christian experience. Some already come to faith with a measure of this, but many do not. And as we’ve learned, wisdom and maturity bring rich rewards. But that’s not the end of the journey.
Once we’ve done the hard work to become wise and are experiencing the benefits, the next step is to give it up for Christ. In other words, to become a fool for Christ. We then have come full circle. We’ve gone from foolish to wise and back to foolish again. To learn more about this click here: What It Means to be a Fool for Christ.
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