My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the LORD disciplines those he loves as a father the son he delights in (Proverbs 3:11-12).

I enjoy having my kids' friends come over to play at our house.  I enjoy it because it's a way of getting to know them better, build a whole-family relationship with him or her on our "home turf," and -- let's not forget -- it keeps my kids occupied.  But this is one thing that I've learned about having my kids' friends come over to play at our house:  they can't be expected to behave as if they were one of my own children.  They can get away with things that my kids would never be able to get away with.

If one of my own kids were to make a grossed-out face at the food that we're having for dinner, they're flatly reminded that they can choose to eat it or not -- but they can't have any other food until they finish their dinner, and if they can't be respectful towards the food that's put on the table for them then they can go to a time-out...  But if one of my kids' friends makes a grossed-out face at the food we're having for dinner, I smile and ask if they would like a peanut-butter sandwich instead.  Similarly, if one of my own kids were to use foul language, they would be immediately and strongly reprimanded... But if one of my kids' friends uses foul or insultory language in our home, I just suggest that "We don't use those kinds of words in our house, so could you please find a different way of saying that?"  It's just one of those things that depends on the level of relationship and the potential amount of time available to work on a particular area of behavior.  If it's my own kids, then it's worth the hassle to discipline them and train them.  But if it's not one of my kids, then it's not worth the hassle.

This is the same way that it works with the LORD.  He is willing to invest much more time and energy in disciplining and training His children; but if a person chooses to live as a loner, independent of God, then it's just not worth the hassle.  I should note that the analogy kind of breaks down a little bit at this point -- because God considers each individual within His creation invaluable and "worth the hassle," so long as they're willing to humbly turn to him in repentence.  But even so, God's primary "parental energy" is extended towards those who are counted as His children.  And thus, non-believers can get away with things that the children of God would never be able to get away with.  We have to deal with the difficulties of developing patience, turning the other cheek, and loving our enemies -- while we watch that other people seem to be able to be as impatient as they want to be, as aggressive as they want to be, and as vindictive as they want to be, without suffering anything near the level of frustration and discipline that those of us among the children of God experience.  The LORD's discipline is actually a very good thing, even though it doesn't always feel like it.  It's an acknowledgement of relationship.  It's a sign of love.  It's an indication that God considers us "worth the hassle."

Don't resent the rebuke.  Don't despise the LORD's discipline.  Embrace it, and be glad for it, because the LORD disciplines those he loves as a father the son (or daughter) he delights in.  And being a child of God is a very, very good thing.