Training Children – The World’s Way vs. God’s Way

Train up a child in the way he should go… Proverbs 22:6a

          Jeremiah 2:13 says, “For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and hewn themselves cisterns—broken cisterns that can hold no water.”  Instead of trusting and obeying God, the world does things its own way.  The world’s way does not work!  It is a water pitcher with holes in it.  We can identify this in several areas, but let’s focus on children.  Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.”  The way to train a child is with the Word of God.  However, many parents entrust the training to the schools, daycares, or babysitters.  Very few of these are teaching God’s word.  When the children are home, they sit in front of a tv, computer, or play video games.  Some children think their call of duty is to pick up a gun instead of reading and obeying God’s Word, becoming a disciple (John 8:31-32), and making disciples (Matthew 28:19-20). 

          The world teaches to not spank and discipline your child, because it is abuse.  However, Proverbs 22:15 says, “Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of correction will drive it far from him.”  Instead of driving the foolishness out of our children with discipline, the world says to take them to doctors.  Then doctors diagnose our children with diseases and prescribe medication.  Most parents come into agreement with those diagnoses instead of speaking life over our children (Proverbs 18:21) and calling those things which be not as though they are (Romans 4:17b).  The world is teaching us to hate our children as Proverbs 13:24a says, “He who spares his rod hates his son.”  God should be our example.  Revelation 3:19a says, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten.”  See also Hebrews 12:6, Proverbs 3:11-12, 20:30, 23:13-14, 29:15.  The world teaches that children are a burden to our fun or bank account, instead of a gift from God (Psalm 127:3).  We, as parents, need to get back to the Word of God and train and discipline our children, our gifts from God!