In military terms, discipline is crucial. Many men have entered the military and developed strict disciplines that have remained with them throughout their lives. Exercise regiments demand discipline from individuals. Every day or every other day, a specific time is set aside, and nothing should interfere with this discipline. Similarly, weight loss requires discipline to avoid unhealthy foods and instead focus on nutritious options. 1 Timothy 4:8 emphasizes that while bodily “discipline may be of limited benefit, godliness is highly profitable for all aspects of life. It promises rewards in the present and the afterlife.” While exercising for physical health is commendable, spiritual disciplines offer eternal benefits.
Reading Proverbs is a lifelong learning journey. Proverbs 23:12 highlights the importance of applying one’s “heart to discipline and listening to words of wisdom.” This text contains several key points. “Apply” is a command, reminding us that our hearts can be fickle at times. We must be mindful of this truth and avoid following our hearts, as they can lead us astray. However, a heart aligned with God, truth, and righteousness is beneficial. This is where discipline comes into play. Our hearts must be applied to cultivate self-control and resist desires that may lead us astray. Proverbs 4:23 advises us to “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Similarly, Jeremiah 17:9 states, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and beyond cure. Who can understand it?”
What are some effective ways to discipline ourselves?
Strategic and systematic reading of Scripture involves reading the Bible in “a planned and methodical manner.” Many people have comprehensive Bible reading plans that they follow each year, reading the Bible from cover to cover in various orders. While this approach is valid, I find a more systematic approach to be beneficial. I often read and reread books of the Bible multiple times. For instance, I may dedicate an entire month to reading Ecclesiastes. Alternatively, I set a goal for myself, such as reading and rereading the minor prophets and one major prophetic book, like Isaiah or Jeremiah, this year.
Establishing a dedicated time for reading Scripture is crucial. While a systematic reading approach is a valuable discipline, it’s equally important to discipline our time. Ephesians 5:15-16 emphasizes the importance of being mindful of our actions and “making the most of our time, as the days are evil.” In today’s fast-paced world, with many people juggling full-time jobs and responsibilities, it’s easy to neglect our reading of Scripture. To combat this, we must set aside a specific time each day for reading, even if it means waking up earlier to dedicate that time to Scripture.
You must be systematic in your worship and fellowship. This discipline is lacking in the modern-day Western church. The early church gathered for fellowship, prayer, and the Word. Hebrews 10:25 states, “Not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” We gather to hear, sing, pray, and fellowship together. Colossians 1:28 defines that fellow believers help one another, saying, “We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ.” Colossians 3:16 emphasizes“the importance of letting the word of Christ dwell within us, teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in our hearts to God. To admonish means to “warn or reprimand.” We do this based on God’s commands and truth, so that each person can walk faithfully and become more like Christ. However, with the many cultural draws of travel, sports, hobbies, and personal time, the Lord’s Day hasn’t become a systematic discipline in many lives.
You must also be systematic in understanding God’s providential sovereignty. We often agree with the theological truth of God’s sovereignty as long as it doesn’t inconvenience us. But when trials or circumstances affect what we perceive as interference with our comfort, we complain. In the Scriptures, God uses countless individuals, even wicked and vile ones, to accomplish His purpose. These uses may sometimes affect our lives. It may seem unfair, but God is orchestrating the work He plans. Proverbs 21:1 states, “The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He wishes.” Daniel 2:21 further emphasizes this, saying, “It is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings.” Of course, we know Romans 8:28, where God works all things together for the good. Be consistent in disciplining yourself to God’s sovereign plan.
Discipline demands commitment. Many discipline themselves through food and drink. They desire to deviate from their path, but one realizes that even a slight deviation over time can lead to a significant gap. We also know that the heart is deceitful, and we must diligently guard it, as mentioned in Jeremiah 17:9 and Proverbs 4:23. This is the underlying message of Proverbs 23:12a, “Apply your heart to discipline.” It involves hard work and systematic discipline.
Applying Ears
Not only is the heart fickle, but the ear also tends to listen to things that are not beneficial for spiritual disciplines. I have been a student of expository preaching for nearly 25 years now, and I believe it is the most effective way to preach and teach the word of God. However, there is a concept that we need to develop and apply: expository listening. Expository listening involves explaining. An expository listener seeks to deeply hear and understand a subject rather than merely scanning for highlights. It has been described as “Following the thread of an argument from beginning to end, respecting the structure the author or speaker intended.”
Hearing and applying are both crucial. One can hear and agree, but fail to apply the principles of the text. Agreeing with the text as true but failing to let it be effective in one’s life is not application. One can agree that they need to be more compassionate, but if they fail to apply that compassion, they haven’t been disciplined in applying the words of wisdom.
In our text, we are commanded to apply our ears to words of knowledge. This doesn’t mean knowledge in a human or philosophical sense. I don’t believe the author is referring to worldly wisdom here. Proverbs 22:17 seems to be the key verse for this, which says, “Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, and apply your mind to my knowledge.”
As we undergo sanctification in our lives, we learn from the word of God. The discipline here is the discipline of carefully listening to the truth of God’s word. Too often, we skim the surface to alleviate our guilt. The process of carefully and systematically reading and hearing is applicable to our spiritual disciplines.