More Than You

Read Proverbs 3:12-16 Proverbs 22:6

MORE THAN YOU

".... if thou beatest him with a rod he shall not die." Proverbs 23:13

How often have you told your children, "This is going to hurt me more than it will you?" My wife has told me that she is often to the point of tears when the children cry after some punishment she has inflicted. I also felt this way for awhile. In fact, I was more angry at the idea of having to punish them than for what they did wrong. I had always heard the statement, "Spare the rod and spoil the child." It never really meant much until after my conversion and I read Proverbs and realized that God was telling me to do this and not some backyard philosopher. We say, "God said it. I believe it. That settles it for me." Do we always practice it? If you do not discipline your children then, you might as well dedicate them to Satan rather than God. Dedication without follow up is useless. God is the God of order and Satan the Father of anarchy. Unless law is enforced, it is ineffective and anarchy reigns. Discipline is nothing less than (loving) law enforcement. Often have I been thankful that God took "a rod" to me. It brought me back to the straight and narrow. If He loves us enough to discipline us, then should we and can we love our children any less?

My Son, if I spared the correction rod,

The paths of sin you would surely trod.

Do not now my measures rate.

Wait until you are past Heaven’s gate.

RES

THOT: You will grieve for them TOMORROW, if you do not teach them TODAY!