Godly Discipline of Disciple-Making

Proverbs 13:18-25

18 Poverty and shame will come to him who disdains correction,
But he who regards a rebuke will be honored.

19 A desire accomplished is sweet to the soul,
But it is an abomination to fools to depart from evil.

20 He who walks with wise men will be wise,
But the companion of fools will be destroyed.

21 Evil pursues sinners,
But to the righteous, good shall be repaid.

22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children,
But the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.

23 Much food is in the fallow ground of the poor,
And for lack of justice there is waste.

24 He who spares his rod hates his son,
But he who loves him disciplines him promptly.

25 The righteous eats to the satisfying of his soul,
But the stomach of the wicked shall be in want.

These seemingly small bits of wisdom are each quite large in application; the contrast of the righteous way and the way of the one who chooses to ignore God’s word for understanding is spelled out for us.  If we ignore or even look down with a sneering gaze at godly correction, the discipline of the Lord, it will result in shame and poverty of the soul and in living.  If we choose instead to endure the pain of discipline (Hebrews 12:11), the process will bring us honor before God, as well as honoring Him.  If we are rebuked accordingly to His word it will bring a greater understanding which makes us wise.  Then when we desire something in alignment with His will we find it a sweet accomplishment to our souls instead of the abominations of evil against His word and the consequences of disobedience.  How can we do this?  One way given here is to walk with wise men, to come alongside for discipleship of learning and living.  If we choose to go on living with fools instead, destruction is the only thing learned as a painful lesson.  Yes, those who run after evil which is contrary to the word of the Lord will be themselves chased down by evil, but good from God will be given to those pursuing righteousness.  Though we are saved entirely by grace and have not earned salvation from eternal judgment by doing enough good, we are called to work out our salvation’s sanctification by pursing righteousness in our hearts, minds, and actions lived out.  This knowledge and the discipline required are what we give to our children (natural and spiritual) as an inheritance in Christ.  Even the sinner’s wealth they gather will be given to God’s righteous or holy ones, the saints, in the end.  Some may waste this food which nourishes the soul by not cultivating it, and without justice it is wasted instead of rightly given to those in need, both naturally and spiritually.  This discipline then for natural children is required to set a straight path for their feet to keep them away from harm.  It is also to be applied without long deliberation or hesitation if it is to be effective.  This applies to spiritual children in making disciples as we teach them all things Jesus said (Matthew 28:20, Colossians 1:28, 2 Timothy 2:2), keeping short accounts of sin and directing the lives to follow Him.  We teach to feed the soul and not the natural man’s possessions or accomplishments.  Eating of God’s word (Jeremiah 15:16) is to be nourished as the driving desire of living to be God pleasers.  The alternative of following after the evil of the world is starvation of the soul.  This is the godly discipline of making disciples.