Text: Proverbs 13:23-25 (ESV)   23 The fallow ground of the poor would yield much food, but it is swept away through injustice. 24 Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him. 25 The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite, but the belly of the wicked suffers want.   LOVE AND DISCIPLINE   Out of his diligence, the poor man may till his land and get enough food to put on the table. But, he may lose it quickly through injustice. An unjust person or persons may abuse and steal what the land produces from a helpless poor man. Unfair or unwise demands from a landowner may limit what the crop produces. The apostle James slighted the rich farmers to task for keeping their workers poor. They were unjust and cared only about increasing their wealth so they could live in luxury and abuse the poor. He writes in James 5:4–6: "Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you."   Verse 24 provides a principle in disciplining a child. In literal terms, this verse is about corporal punishment. But, it is not only limited to physical discipline. This should not be taken out and justify a form of abuse. A person who truly loves a child will provide discipline (Prov 3:11–12), to keep the child from developing evil habits and attitudes. The natural propensity of human beings is to indulge in sin (Prov 19:18). Laziness and dishonesty might be the result of lack of discipline(Prov 12:19, 24; 13:4). As everyone inherits a sinful nature, everyone needs discipline, is it not?   The righteous child lives a contented life. Contentment is an illusive virtue in today's world. His disciplined life does form a habit that prompts him not to live according to the things in this world. The wicked is pictured as the prodigal. He longed to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate but no one gave him anything (Luke 15:16). They hoped something from the evil world system, they won’t satisfy their hunger, but their hope is vain.   Listen and FOLLOW us on our podcast ------------------------- Visit and FOLLOW Gospel Light Filipino on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram