Pro 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Many times we hear parents that are distraught with wayward children use this verse for comfort. We hear them make statments like, “I know Johnny has strayed away from the Lord, but I am claiming Proverbs 22:6 and I know he will come back.” That is all well and good and we should pray for wayward children to return back to the ways of God, but that is not what this verse is saying. Let’s read it again,
Pro 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. This verse says that if we train a child, why do you think it says “a child” and not “children”, I think because each child requires different methods of training. I didn’t say different messages, but different methods. Then it goes on to say if we do that, when they are old they will not depart from it. It does not say they will stray and come back, but that they won’t stray from the truth if they are trained properly.
I spent a while talking with some school administrators this morning about this very subject. It seems that the mindset of teenagers today is “Nothing is My Fault” and the “World Owes Me.” I believe that the reason for this is there is not enough “Intentional Parenting.” Parents expect the school system to discipline their children. The discipline of a child is the parents responsibility and belongs to no one else. If God has given you the blessing and privilage of raising children please get involved in their lives and provide them with sound biblical Intentional Parenting.
Then we can truly and rightly claim the promise of Provebs 22:6.
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