Chastisement
“Punishment that hurts chases evil from the heart.” Prov.20:30
Chastisement… Webster says it is the punishment or discipline given to bring correction to that which is wrong or evil. We could also say that chastisement is the art of eliminating the evil to preserve the good. This should tell us what motives us in doing the things we do. The evil to preserve the good. This should tell us what motivates us in doing the things we do.
We all have four basic motivations:
- We feel responsible and commit ourselves to them.
- We fear the consequences of not doing them.
- We desire and enjoy the feeling of achievement.
- We have a dream we want to fulfill.
The most common motivation is the second one - for fear of chastisement. It is not the best, but the most common motivation. The average employee works for fear of losing the job. Some hate their job, but keep on working in it for years. Many business people have a certain amount of motivation from fear of losing their business.
Even marriages hold up for fear of reputation or financial obligation. It is not wrong to have a measure of fear. In fact, no business, family or society can survive without it. Some of these fears make us faithful and responsible. We are to love and serve God, but without the fear of chastisement we may not stay faithful under the pressure of temptation.
Everything alive that has been trained and becomes valuable will understand fear-motivation. Punishing misdeeds chases evil or unfavorable ideas and behavior from us. Horses, dogs, lions, kids and adults all must understand the principle of reward for good and chastisement for bad.
Without a certain sense of fear, we cannot function properly. The fear of punishment or loss will cause everyone and everything to follow certain internal disciples that will develop good behavior. These internal disciples or trained behaviors, increase their value. This is a principle that has been ignored in America.
That is why thousands of children carry guns to school and crime is on the rise. Their fear of the chastisement is less than the benefits they believe they will get from stealing. It is impossible to manage a family, a business, or a society without a set of laws that will put the fear of God in us.
Yes, we must teach and love good values and the rewards they bring us, but we must also teach the consequences of not following them. Every action has a reaction. Every behavior has a reward. Every positive has a negative. It’s the rule of life and none of us can change it.
This fear of chastisement is not the best or most important motivation, but it is an immovable, hard fact of life. The sooner we enforce these disciplines, the better off we will be. The fear of “punishment that hurts” (not just paying a fine) must be rooted in the back of every mind. The rules must be fair and just, but when they are broken it must hurt mentally, physically and financially. There is a wage or a price that goes with sin.
God has set the rules “punishment that hurts chases evil from the heart.” If we are managing and motivating people, we must first establish some absolute rules that bring tough consequences when broken. This will create fear of crossing over the line, but it will also let people know what we want or expect of them.
This allows them to work freely within the framework of the established parameters. Well-communicated, strict laws which are enforced quickly will eliminate the fear of the unknown, which will give us freedom.
Discussion:
Why do we hate chastisement?
Which of the four reasons for doing something applies best to you?Thoughts to Ponder:
If you want to dance, you cannot be concerned about stepping on toes.
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