Using Stories To Discipline

We’ve talked about using stories to teach lessons.
Here’s another application, using stories for discipline.
Ever hear the excuse, 
“It was just one time.”

Read I Kings 2. 
Shimei cursed David as he fled from Absalom. He pled for his life after David returned to his throne. David promised he would not take it.
Before his death, David instructed Solomon to give Shimei justice.
Solomon brings Shimei before him and commands he live in Jerusalem.
He is not to leave Jerusalem.
Solomon doesn't explain why. He doesn't need to. 
[This also addresses that reason  “I’m 16 years old, I should be able to make my own decisions.”
In this illustration, a man, not a child, was required to obey.
We all must obey someone—a boss, a landlord, a government… ]

How does Shimei respond to this rule?
Shimei said, “What you say is good, … so will your servant do.”
But three years pass, two of his servants escape to another city.
(The rule doesn't stop because time passes.)
He leaves to get them.
He has disobeyed.
What’s the consequence?
Death.
Did he have a good reason to disobey?
Was it worth his life?

What about the excuse, “You didn’t want me to miss church, did you?”
[I told myself not to be distracted with why he wasn’t ready for church on time and was left. That was another issue.]
King Saul had that dilemma too.
We read about it in I Samuel 15:22. 
The prophet Samuel told him to wait for him to sacrifice. 
Samuel was late.
The Philistines were ready on the other mountainside to fight.
Saul was losing men. He must do something before he lost all his men.
Sacrifice was essential for victory.
Wasn’t that a good thing?
So he sacrificed.
When he finished, Samuel arrived and pronounced the consequence of Saul sacrificing instead of the priest—disobeying God’s command for the priest to sacrifice and for him to wait.
There was no second chance, though he didn’t know the consequence, he knew the command.
Just because it’s a good thing, doesn’t justify disobedience.
Ask Saul.
He lost his kingdom.
“To obey is better than sacrifice.” 

The Bible is full of stories that teach God’s lessons.
Study to avoid misapplication.
The Daniel’s Diet of vegetables and fruit spread through churches a few years ago—as if the diet would help lose weight. 
Notice: They ate and got fatter than those who ate the king’s meat. Their motive was not to disobey God’s dietary commands. God blessed their obedience.
Be diligent to represent the Word accurately.

Pray for wisdom to discipline.
God will bring the right story to mind, as you read His Word and listen to His Spirit to discipline your children. 

I write about what matters...to you---
women, wives and moms---
about your family, faith and future.
I write about what's hard, what helps and what heals.
I show you how it's done. And not done.
I hold your hand as you find what matters to the Savior.
And let go of those things that mattered to you, but not to Him.
I write about what matters...to Him.
               Sonya Contreras

Child Training
Find other Articles on Child Training
Here:
Technology's Addiction
Freedom To Choose
The Minimalist Mom: Simple Steps to Rescue Your Child from Digital Overload
Catering to the Child
Using Stories To Discipline
Are You Being Challenged?
Making Your Child Obey
The Test
Do You Have Ugly Kids?
Do You See the Project or the People?
Are You the Child or the Parent?
Church Time and Quiet Time
Are You a Helicopter Parent?
Controlling the Angry Child
Stages of Parental Control
Homeschooling Myths Debunked
Preparing My Sons for Marriage
Trust and Obey
Made To Work
Holding Onto Truth
Letting Go of the Little Boy
Are You Patient?
How Do You Love Your Child?
Raising the Impossible Child
Premises for Child Training
Teen Trials
Preteen Trouble
A Place To Call Your Own:
Instilling Ownership in Your Child
The Why, When and How of Child Training
Freedom To Choose
Eight Don'ts of Discipline
Ten Do's of Discipline
To Have a Hamster To Hold: A Case Study in Discipline
Just the Facts, Ma'am
Time Out or Restoration
Training for Truth
Look What I Can Do?
Where's the Box
Finding Your Child's Gifts
Developing Your Child's Gifts
Dear Master of a Godly Child
Keeping the Tradition Going
Sleep--It's for Your Brain
What Baseball Teaches about Life
What's for Dinner?
What's the Value of a Dollar, Part 1
What's the Value of a Dollar, Part 2