Walk Of Life – Day 29, July 2021 – Thoughts From The Book Of Proverbs – Be Diligent!
Be Diligent To Correct To Your Son
Correct your son, and he will give you rest; Yes, he will give delight to your soul. – Proverbs 29:17
The other Bible verses related to discipline the children are as follows.
Discipline your children, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to their death. (Proverbs 19:18)
Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you punish them with the rod, they will not die. (Proverbs 23:13)
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)
Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12:7-11)
These verses clearly highlight the importance of bringing out the children in a very disciplined way.
The word “discipline” in the verse is a translation of the Hebrew word “Yasser” , which means “to chastise, literally (with blows) or figuratively (with words); hence, to instruct — bind, chasten, chastise, correct, instruct, punish, reform, reprove, sore, teach.” Discipline here includes a range of actions in order to help children to grow into mature adults: teach, instruct, chasten with words and even a spanking. Why should a parent do this? We have an example in God the Father who “disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness.” So the Bible nowhere teaches parents to discipline out of uncontrolled anger, because they are fraught, fed up or anything to do with the parent’s mood. It needs to be done with the child’s benefit in mind. This is how God disciplines us and this is our example.
Physical discipline is a last resort and should never ever be abusive in nature. If parents love their children, instruct them, play with them, spend time with them, then stronger action is less likely to be needed. If needed, it needs to be clear to the child why it is being done, by way of explanation of the behaviour that was unacceptable, and why punishment is needed. It need not be physical. Withdrawal of privileges can be effective.
The verse goes on to say it will bring delight to the parent. Why? Because as a parent you will know that you have tried your best to bring up a child to grow into a mature and sound person. If they do become mature and sound adults it will bring you delight.
