Discipline Over Desire: A Path to Integrity
Summary
In today's world, the concept of saving money and managing debt is a significant challenge. Credit cards, while convenient, often undermine our ability to practice moderation and self-control. This shift from asking "why" to "why not" when making purchases reflects a broader cultural change over the past fifty years. This lack of discipline is not only evident in personal finances but also in how governments handle money, often misunderstanding its true value. Discipline, however, is not about self-imposed suffering or earning merit; it is about purposeful training. It is essential for leading a life of value and integrity.
Discipline is a cornerstone of morality, providing a foundation to resist doing what we want and to do what we ought. Without discipline, desires can become destructive, tearing apart our souls and leading us astray. The New Testament repeatedly warns against unchecked desires, as seen in 1 Peter 2:11, which advises abstaining from fleshly lusts that war against the soul. James 4:2-3 further illustrates how desires lead to conflicts and strife. Therefore, discipline is crucial for ordering our lives and aligning our actions with what is good.
God's presence and power support us when we choose discipline over desire. Love, as God defines it, is directed towards what is good, not merely what we want. Teaching children to internalize discipline helps them grow into adults who are not mastered by their desires. Asceticism, in its classical sense, is about training oneself to prioritize what is good under God's guidance. This structure prevents us from being destroyed by desire.
Jesus' conversation with the woman at the well in John 4 highlights the transformative power of spiritual discipline. He offers her living water, symbolizing a life not dominated by desire. Desire itself is not inherently bad; it is essential but must be subordinated to what is good. Our social systems, including government, education, and business, would be vastly different if governed by what is good rather than by manipulating desires.
Key Takeaways:
- Discipline is essential for a life worth living, providing the foundation to resist desires that can lead us astray. It is not about self-imposed suffering but about purposeful training to align our lives with what is good. [57:24]
- Unchecked desires can be destructive, as warned in the New Testament. They can tear apart our souls and lead to conflicts, highlighting the need for discipline to manage them effectively. [58:37]
- God's presence and power support us when we choose discipline over desire. Love, as defined by God, is directed towards what is good, not merely what we want. [01:00:37]
- Teaching children discipline helps them grow into adults who are not mastered by their desires. Asceticism is about training oneself to prioritize what is good under God's guidance. [01:01:25]
- Desire is not inherently bad but must be subordinated to what is good. Our social systems would be transformed if governed by what is good rather than by manipulating desires. [01:04:09]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[55:43] - The Challenge of Credit Cards
[56:31] - Cultural Shift in Spending
[57:01] - The Role of Discipline
[57:58] - Morality and Discipline
[58:20] - The Destructive Nature of Desire
[58:58] - Biblical Warnings Against Desire
[59:34] - The Source of Conflicts
[01:00:04] - Aligning Actions with Good
[01:00:37] - God's Support in Discipline
[01:01:08] - Teaching Discipline to Children
[01:01:42] - Asceticism and Spiritual Order
[01:01:58] - Jesus and the Woman at the Well
[01:03:28] - The Role of Desire
[01:04:09] - Transforming Social Systems
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. 1 Peter 2:11 - "Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul."
2. James 4:2-3 - "You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God."
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Observation Questions:
1. According to the sermon, how have credit cards changed the way people think about spending money? [55:56]
2. What does the sermon suggest is the primary function of discipline in our lives? [57:58]
3. How does the sermon describe the relationship between unchecked desires and the soul? [58:37]
4. What example from the New Testament does the sermon use to illustrate the dangers of unchecked desires? [58:58]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does 1 Peter 2:11 relate to the sermon’s message about the dangers of unchecked desires? What might it mean to abstain from desires that "wage war against your soul"?
2. In James 4:2-3, what is the connection between desire and conflict? How does this passage support the sermon’s view on the destructive nature of unchecked desires? [59:49]
3. The sermon mentions that God’s presence and power support us when we choose discipline over desire. How might this understanding change a person’s approach to discipline? [01:00:37]
4. How does the story of Jesus and the woman at the well in John 4 illustrate the transformative power of spiritual discipline? [01:01:58]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own spending habits. How often do you find yourself asking "why not" instead of "why" when making purchases? What steps can you take to practice more financial discipline? [55:56]
2. Think about a desire in your life that might be leading you astray. How can you apply the principles of discipline discussed in the sermon to manage this desire effectively? [58:37]
3. Consider the role of discipline in your spiritual life. What is one area where you feel God is calling you to be more disciplined? How can you begin to make changes in that area this week? [57:24]
4. How can you teach or model discipline to children or younger people in your life? What practical steps can you take to help them internalize discipline? [01:01:08]
5. Reflect on a recent conflict in your life. How might unchecked desires have contributed to it? What can you do differently in the future to prevent similar conflicts? [59:49]
6. Imagine a social system, like your workplace or community, governed by what is good rather than by manipulating desires. What changes would you like to see, and how can you contribute to making those changes? [01:04:09]
7. How can you ensure that your love is directed towards what is good, as defined by God, rather than merely what you want? What practical steps can you take to align your desires with God’s will? [01:00:55]
Devotional
Day 1: The Foundation of Discipline
Discipline is essential for a life worth living, providing the foundation to resist desires that can lead us astray. It is not about self-imposed suffering but about purposeful training to align our lives with what is good. Discipline is a guiding force that helps us navigate the complexities of life, ensuring that our actions are in harmony with our values and beliefs. It is a tool that enables us to make choices that reflect our commitment to what is good and just, rather than succumbing to fleeting desires. [57:24]
"For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." (Hebrews 12:11, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area in your life where you struggle with discipline? How can you begin to practice purposeful training in this area today?
Day 2: The Destructive Nature of Unchecked Desires
Unchecked desires can be destructive, as warned in the New Testament. They can tear apart our souls and lead to conflicts, highlighting the need for discipline to manage them effectively. Desires, when left unchecked, can lead to a life of chaos and dissatisfaction. They can create internal and external conflicts, pulling us away from our true purpose and leading us into a cycle of unfulfillment. By recognizing the potential harm of unchecked desires, we can take steps to manage them through discipline and intentional living. [58:37]
"But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death." (James 1:14-15, ESV)
Reflection: Identify a desire in your life that often leads to conflict. What practical steps can you take to manage this desire through discipline?
Day 3: God's Support in Choosing Discipline
God's presence and power support us when we choose discipline over desire. Love, as defined by God, is directed towards what is good, not merely what we want. When we align our actions with God's definition of love, we find strength and support in His presence. This divine support empowers us to choose discipline, guiding us towards a life that reflects His goodness and love. By seeking God's guidance, we can overcome the pull of desires and live a life that honors Him. [01:00:37]
"His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence." (2 Peter 1:3, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you seek God's support to choose discipline over desire in your daily life?
Day 4: Teaching Discipline to the Next Generation
Teaching children discipline helps them grow into adults who are not mastered by their desires. Asceticism is about training oneself to prioritize what is good under God's guidance. By instilling discipline in the next generation, we equip them with the tools to navigate life's challenges with integrity and purpose. This training helps them understand the importance of prioritizing what is good, enabling them to make choices that reflect their values and beliefs. [01:01:25]
"Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6, ESV)
Reflection: How can you model and teach discipline to the younger generation in your life today?
Day 5: Transforming Desires for the Greater Good
Desire is not inherently bad but must be subordinated to what is good. Our social systems would be transformed if governed by what is good rather than by manipulating desires. By understanding the role of desire in our lives, we can learn to harness it for the greater good. This transformation begins with a commitment to align our desires with what is good, allowing us to contribute positively to our communities and society as a whole. [01:04:09]
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:2, ESV)
Reflection: What is one desire you have that could be transformed to serve a greater good? How can you begin this transformation today?
Quotes
Discipline is absolutely necessary to any life worth leading. I shall say that again: discipline is absolutely necessary to any life worth leading, and we need to help people understand that. It's like spiritual formation. It's a matter of which one you get, which life do you get. [00:57:24]
Discipline is a major part of morality because a primary function of morality is to give us a place to stand, to not do what we want to do, and to do what we don't want to do. See, it's only discipline that can deal with desire. [00:57:58]
The universal teaching of the New Testament is that if you do not discipline desire, it will absolutely ruin your life. It will tear your soul apart, destroy you. One graphic teaching in Peter, First Peter, where he says, I beseech you, brothers, as pilgrims and strangers, abstain from fleshly lust that war against the soul. [00:58:37]
Where do wars and fightings come, James asked in chapter four, where do they come from? And he just tells you, well, they come from your desires. You lust and do not have, so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. [00:59:34]
Discipline is absolutely essential to the ordering of our lives, and discipline is what enables us to do what we should do, as distinct from what we want to do. And then as we enter into that, the power of God, God's presence and power moves into our lives. [01:00:04]
God is on the side of good. God is love. Love is directed towards what is good, not towards what you want. So be careful about saying what you love, because many times it just means that's what I want. [01:00:37]
If you're teaching a child, one of the things that you know is you have to help them not do what they want and hope that they will internalize that so that as they grow up, they will not be mastered by their desires. [01:01:08]
Asceticism is a process of training which enables you to order your life around what is good, and that is always for the human being under God. And so God is first, right? Your spirit or will then comes under God, and that will bring your soul under God. [01:01:25]
When Jesus is teaching in John 4 to the lady at the well, he starts talking to her about thirst and water, and he says anyone who drinks of the water that I shall give them will never thirst again, but the water that I give him will be a spring rising up to everlasting life. [01:01:58]
I think what Jesus was saying to the woman is if you get what I have to give you, you will never be dominated by desire again. Never. You will not be driven by your desires. [01:03:28]
Desire is essential, and you can't do without it. You can only fake it, and that's a hard job. But desire is meant to be subordinated to what is good. What is good should govern our lives, and it is in constant war with what desire goes after. [01:04:09]
Imagine what our government, our educational system, our business world would be like if it was governed by what is good and not what people can get that they want. Many times it's by manipulating the desires of others that we control them. [01:04:49]
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