Walk Of Life – Day 23, April 2021 – Thoughts From The Book Of Proverbs – DON’T s

This proverb begins by saying that we do not need to hold back discipline from a child. This is actually one of the most “unloving” things you can do to your child. You are ensuring that the child will be used to getting his or her own way – and that they will indeed be a spoiled brat as they grow older. At the very least, you are making sure they will be selfish – and that the lessons they should have learned early in life will be learned with much harder lessons later in life.

All children are born selfish and self-centered. This is due to the fall of man into sin. I realize that this particular view runs counter to most educational models of this present world. They believe that man is basically good and that if we just get out of man’s way with our oppressive rules and regulations – man would find his own way to the next level of evolution. The Bible teaches that man is fallen – and that given his own way that man will ruin himself eventually. We watch this in our world in general from year to year – decade to decade – and millenium to millenium. But we can watch the same thing with a child. Every child needs discipline. Some will seem to more naturally be given to disicpline – while others are terrors from birth. You can be assured of a different ride based on the basic temperament of the child – but all need discipline.

Discipline is about the heart of a child. Physical or corporal punishment is ONLY to be administered in a spirit of love for the child. Teaching and loving verbal correction is key – as is prayer for the child’s eventual salvation in Jesus Christ. Any physical punishment administered due to anger or rage is out of line and wrong. The parent is to discipline the child with appropriate discipline – not abuse. In the end the child should be taught – and in every circumstance hugged, loved, and prayed with after any physical punishment to assure them of our love. Instead the idea of loving discipline is intended.