Parenting books are almost as popular as diet books; it’s a huge market. You would think babies were different today—but they are the same as always. And Solomon put the basics of parenting in the Book of Proverbs 3,000 years ago:
DISCIPLINE YOUR KIDS.
“Discipline your son and it will bring you peace of mind and give you delight” 29:17. “A rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a youth left to himself is a disgrace to his mother” 29:15. This is simple: if you discipline your kids, they will bring you peace and happiness, if you don’t, they will bring you disgrace. We have all seen examples of both.
DON’T CODDLE AND SPOIL YOUR KIDS.
“A servant pampered from his youth will become arrogant later on” 29:21. Though this verse is about servants—the “staff”—consider how it applies to children: if parents spoil them or pamper them, withholding necessary discipline, children will grow up to be arrogant and ungrateful.
CONTROL YOUR ANGER.
“A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man holds it in check” 29:11. Control your anger, even when you discipline your children.
DISCIPLINED KIDS WILL HAVE INTEGRITY—AND INTEGRITY WILL GIVE THEM COURAGE.
“The wicked flee when no one is pursuing, but the righteous are as bold as a lion” 28:1. Righteousness—integrity—CREATES courage, because it repeatedly requires children to stand alone, to make hard choices, to go against the foolishness around them. As they grow up, they will develop courage and boldness.
LIVING LIVES OF INTEGRITY WILL BLESS YOUR KIDS WITH GREAT WISDOM.
“Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the Lord understand everything” 28:5. When your children become godly adults, living obedient lives and walking in God’s truth and wisdom, God will help them to “understand everything.” That is, God will bless them with GREAT WISDOM.
God, make us the parents you designed us to be. Thank you for putting EVERYTHING we need to know in the Bible!
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