Spoiled Brat

I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference.

Revelation 3:19 (NLT)

Have you ever met a spoiled rotten, entitled child? You know, the one who gets exactly what they want, when they want it, no matter what it may be? They expect to be served. When they don’t get exactly what they want, they throw a tantrum.

I’ve met many of these children over my lifetime. However, the one that sticks most was a 45-year-old woman. She was my boss’s daughter, but I was her manager at the company where we worked. I caught her in a lie. Essentially, she was clocking in for the day to go out on sales calls, (she was supposed to visit potential customers) but instead went home, or went shopping, or basically anywhere but to actual sales calls. As a manager should, I confronted her about it. What transpired is still fixed in my memory. This woman (who was old enough to be my mom at the time) began cursing, yelling, screaming, and throwing stuff at me. She was the daughter of the owner, and she could do what she wanted, or so she shouted. I fired her. I got promoted. Funny how things worked out.

When parents don’t discipline their children, they grow up to think the world revolves around them. When they don’t get their way, ugliness ensues. A loving parent must discipline their child to prevent this from happening. A loving parent insists upon respect, compassion, and mercy. A loving parent wants their children to gain the trust and respect of others. A loving parent wants their children to realize the word does not revolve around them.

That’s why I find the Apostle John’s verse today (he wrote Revelation) comforting, “I correct and discipline everyone I love.” In other words, as Christian children, we need to be reminded that the world does not revolve around us. Rather, it’s all about Jesus. So, God disciplines us, teaching us right from wrong, as any good father should, so that we aren’t spoiled brats. Through discipline, we learn to demonstrate love to God, and to others.

So, today, and every day, give thanks to God for His discipline. Thank Him for helping to show you what is good, and what is evil. Thank Him for taking the time to show that He cares. Thank Him for showing you He loves you.