DAY SIXTEEN | The Rules of Belonging

May 16, 2009

DAY SIXTEEN | THE RULES OF BELONGING

HEBREWS 12 : 7 – If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?”

I can’t think of too many instances where I was chastened by my father, and thought it was justified or something to be enjoyed. I do however look back on some of the times I was chastened, and now realise that they were more than “Dad being mad at me.” They were in fact major decision points where I realised that certain things I thought were okay were obviously not okay in the bigger world of which I was a part. My father’s chastening helped me to see my responsibility to the moral and relational rules of the community I called my own.

Starting with family, then church, then community, then nation etc., I have realised that my father was in fact teaching me the “rules of belonging.” People who have never really been taught the rules of belonging, experience a sense of alienation and rejection culminating in anti establishment behaviour. Unfortunately such people have never been taught the benefits of corporate agreement. Living within a given set of guidelines helps all involved to prosper and increase together. Those who shun these boundaries must be chastened to bring them into line with the agreements by which we move forward together.

God instituted a set of rules for belonging to His family and when adhered to, bring amazing blessing and completeness to one’s life. Rather than learn by chastening, why not take God’s laws and work them into your daily walk until they begin to produce blessing and increase. You must also learn the rules of belonging that are peculiar to your family, church, work, society etc. These rules of belonging are to help everyone flourish together. Learn them and enjoy them. If you do need to be chastened then take it like a man and stick it out until completed. God will often use people in leadership in your life to chasten and direct you.

The rules of belonging have a sequence of function in our lives.

A// Rules Knowing the expectations of your world.
B// Restrictions Seeing the boundaries of protection
C// Release Living free within the boundaries
D// Restoration Being restored when rules are broken

Don’t run from the “rules of belonging” but rather learn them well and they will actually release you to flourish in the house where you have been planted.

PRACTICAL

1. Be honest with yourself – Are you a rule breaker.

2. Identify the families or tribes that you belong to. eg Golf club, church, community organization, work staff etc.

3. What rules do you habitually break. eg lateness, criticism, financial slackness etc.

4. Who do you need to see to put things back into right order.

5. I thought you wanted to excel in all things?