Measured Correction

Jeremiah 46:28

Fear thou not, O Jacob my servant, saith the LORD: for I am with thee; for I will make a full end of all the nations whither I have driven thee: but I will not make a full end of thee, but correct thee in measure; yet will I not leave thee wholly unpunished.

When God chose to judge Egypt, He did not unload the whole wagon of wrath upon them; instead, God said He would correct thee in measure. God was saying that though Egypt deserved to be punished, they did not deserve to receive the whole of God’s punishment; rather, they needed some punishment that equaled the wrong they had committed to keep the correction just.

One of the keys to making correction profitable is to correct in measure. Many have never measured their correction which resulted in correction becoming the source of hurt. Now, the rebel is a rebel because they choose to be a rebel, but we should not contribute to their rebellion because we fail to correct in measure. Whether you are a parent, leader, or business person, you must learn the delicate measurements of correction so that correction is used to teach and not to hurt. Let me share several principles about correcting in measure.

First, the purpose for correction is to teach that bad behavior hurts the individual’s future. The purpose of correct is never to inflict pain on the one being corrected, but its purpose is to teach them how bad behavior will hurt them in a greater way in the future if they don't correct it. Never use correction to hurt, but use it to teach that bad behavior hurts the individual’s future.

Second, correction should be according to the wrong. You would not give someone who is speeding the death sentence, for that is unjust. Giving a ticket for speeding is what you would call a measured correction. There are some wrongs that deserve little correction, while others deserve great correction. Don't always think you have to do the worst punishment because someone does wrong. I have always asked myself when I have to correct someone, what would be the just punishment according the infraction they committed? This question will help you to correct in measure.

Third, correction is never to be measured by anger or inconvenience. Having a small cooling-off period so that you can give measured correction is the best way to keep from abusing correction. You don't punish someone because they made you mad, inconvenienced you, or embarrassed you; you only correct because someone has done wrong. To correct someone because they made you mad or inconvenienced you is when punishment is hurtful.

Fourth, correct according to pre-established rules of punishment. It is never right to punish someone if there has been no rule established. Now, you might make a rule after someone has done something, but to punish without an established rule is unjust. Your job as a leader is to have the rules in place that tell you when to punish so that your punishment is just.

My friend, measured correction will do more to correct bad behavior than punishing according to how your feelings. Let punishment start small and increase it as they continue to do the same wrong, for this is a measured correction that is just and will fulfill the intention of what correction is supposed to do, which is to correct bad behavior.