I want to begin this issue with another reminder: living a life of discipline is not in opposition but in harmony with living a life of faith/dependence. I’ll be careful not to beat this drum too much, but I do feel it is an important heart-understanding. I know there may be this fear: “What if someone begins to focus on their self-discipline and places unwise dependence upon their diligence, planning, and preparation? What if they become independent of God’s wisdom, strength and leading?” How is this danger to be avoided? It can and must be avoided, but it will not be avoided by choosing to live a sloppy, fatalistic, apathetic, “let’s just see what happens” kind of life.

DISCIPLINE: A CLEAR EXPRESSION OF FAITH

Two farmers are desiring a healthy harvest. Each one has a large field that will soon be used to germinate the seeds planted and produce a large crop. Both farmers are told that the upcoming season will bring much rain and to plan on planting soon. The first farmer goes out into his field and begins to cultivate the soil and prepare it to receive both the rain and the seed. He knows the soil has no ability of itself to produce a harvest, and he realizes that he is totally dependent on the power of the seed and the provision of the rain. However, because he believes the promised rain is coming and the powerful seed will produce a crop, he carefully prepares his field so that it is in a perfect condition for a harvest. His faith is not in his disciplined preparation of the field, but his disciplined preparation clearly expresses his faith.

The second farmer doesn’t even touch his field; no plowing, not fertilizing, no turning, no oxygenating, nothing. Maybe he just has so much faith in the rain and the seed that he doesn’t want to disturb his dependence with hard working discipline. Or, maybe he has chosen to live a sloppy, fatalistic, apathetic, “let’s just see what happens” kind of life (Door number two!). The rain comes and the seed is sown, but the second farmer does not receive a healthy crop. As we look at these two fields, let us be reminded that the first field pictures the harmony between discipline and faith, while the second field pictures the carelessness with which a life of unbelief is lived. Truth be known, the second farmer had little faith that a great harvest could be reaped; so he didn’t prepare his soil for it.

A disciplined life is the clearest expression of faith in God to work supernaturally through your life. So I challenge you to prepare your field! God is going to bring rain; God’s seed planted in your heart will bring a harvest; God is raising you up for a specific purpose; God is going to use you to do something that you couldn’t imagine. Depending on that promise, discipline the field of your life so that it will be ready to receive the blessing of God. Discipline your prayer life, Bible reading, priorities, time-management, and training advancements. Perfect holiness in the fear of the Lord; strive for the mastery; subdue all hindering passions; maximize the moments of your preparation; walk in carefulness; discipline your actions and thoughts. We should all know by now that all the results are not because of our disciplined preparation, but because of God’s marvelous work. However, because we do believe God is going to work, we discipline our lives in every way we know how, all the while looking unto the miracle-working Jesus to finish the work.

I.NTEGRITY

Well let’s look at the second diamond virtue of discipline, integrity. Before we get back to our text in I Corinthians 9 and view the second virtue in Paul’s life, I want to catch up with the context . Paul warns in chapter 8 about claiming one’s right to Christian liberty at the expense of hurting the conscience of another brother. He explains that Christians do have liberty in the issue of eating meat sacrificed to idols; they know that the idol is nothing, and that there is only one true God. However, Paul goes on to say that there are some believers who would be offended and caused to stumble if they saw another believer eating this meat. In this case, Paul directs the Christian to defer his Christian liberty to protect the weaker brother. He then gives an illustration of how he had surrendered his Christian liberty in similar fashion. Paul had every right as a minister of the gospel to refuse to work. He could have used his authority as an Apostle to expect the Corinthians to provide for his financial needs. However, because Paul knew in his heart that the gospel might be hindered by demanding their financial support, he deferred his right. Listen as Paul explains and seek to catch the heart of integrity displayed here.

“If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ. Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? And they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel. But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.”

I Corinthians 9:12-15

Because of what Paul knew in his heart would take place if he rightfully demanded payment for his ministry, Paul altered his actions to protect these people and the effectiveness of the gospel. What an incredible amount of discipline this had to take! I want you to notice within this snapshot of discipline the diamond virtue of integrity. Paul’s discipline was guided by internal integrity. Paul lived with a clear conscience all his days because he lived with integrity. Paul would not allow himself to act outside of the Spirit-given confines of his conscience and integrity. How easy it could have been for Paul to ignore the voice of his inner conscience, demand payment, and let the chips fall where they might. No one would really have any way of nailing him to the wall. But Paul conducts his ministry out of a heart that is void of guile. He does understand the consequences in his heart, and so he allows his actions to be dominated by his integrity.

A disciplined man’s life must be guided by integrity. Where he could be dishonest and get away with it, his integrity forces the naked truth from his lips. Where he could slough off and get away with it, his integrity prevents him from giving less than all in the most trivial responsibilities. Where his actions will be hidden from the public eye, he still puts forth his very best. Where his motives will never be questioned, he still checks his heart attitude behind all that he does.

For a man of integrity, there is a high standard of excellence that springs not from a love of man’s praise, but a desire to be at peace with a Spirit-set conscience. Integrity means that what he thinks, speaks, and does are all in perfect harmony. He does not have to adapt or adjust his communications to prevent the real attitude of his heart from showing. He does not speak one way while feeling completely different inwardly. There is nothing to hide, there is no hidden deception; his thoughts, words, and actions stand side-by-side in perfect uniformity. His actions are guided by internal principles; there is no guile in what he does. What he speaks comes from his heart. He is willing to be honest with what he knows to be true in his heart even when that truth will not bring personal benefit but rather loss.

Do you have integrity? Do you have the inward discipline to obey God’s Word when you could easily “cut the corner” and never be thought less for doing so? When you find yourself in an argument trying to prove your point, are you willing to place a spin on the naked truth to gain an advantage over your antagonizer? Or is there within you a dynamic principle of integrity that forces you to speak truthfully? Do you have the integrity to be righteous in the dark when no one knows what you are doing or thinking? When you speak with people at church, does your communication accurately reflect the state of your inner man? Do you have the integrity to finish a job well even when you are at the end of your physical strength? Do you have the integrity to defer your rights for the sake of a weaker brother when you know your liberty will cause them to stumble? If you lived out the true feelings and desires of your heart, would you still have a reputation of honesty and purity?

Oh, by the grace of God, let us ask the Holy Ghost to add this diamond virtue to our lives, integrity!