PROVERBS 19:18
“Discipline your son, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to his death.” (Proverbs 19: 18).
The Cambridge dictionary defines discipline as “The training that makes people more willing to obey or more able to control themselves, and there will be punishment if these rules are broken.”
Many things have gone wrong in our society today as a result of “civilisation, modernisation or Westernisation” or whichever name is given to the moral decadence in this new age.
Moral values, decency and respect are things of the past; they have long gone into extinction! Our policy makers devised rules and regulations in favour of moral decadence. Laws are in place to make parents to become handicapped in inculcating moral values into their children. Parents are afraid of their children being taken away from them if 911 are called.
Through the policy makers the devil has planted “designated persons” that children can report the “misconducts” of their parents to.
The irony of life is that these policy makers were brought up with standardised moral values and proper decorum. Hence, their opportunity to be among the high calibres in the society. Surprisingly, these people are now advocating against the values that made them to become voices to reckon with.
As parents, are you going to fold your hands and watch the society to take over your parenting obligation and your divine mandate from you?
When the chips are down, when the unwanted happens, who will fill the heat the most? It consequences falls on the parents and the child. Although in the long run it will bounce back on the society at large.
Parents do not let your children be among the negative statistics of your society. Train them, in still godly fear in them.
“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22: 6).
Correct them in love then they go wrong, punish them if need be. If the law of the state can punish an offender, I don’t see any reason why such state should pass any law that would make parents to become permissive to allow the children to do whatever they like, even when they know it could lead to their destruction!
Punishment shouldn’t only be beating and flogging, you can deprive them of some things they like playing with, time out or sitting them down to talk to them and encourage them from the scripture. Don’t always be in approval of everything they do, just to be in their “good book.” They need to be corrected when they are wrong, we are in their lives to guide and direct them to greatness.
Our text says “You should discipline your child for there will be hope in them- if you raise them properly and they amount to greatness in future, you can be sure that your old age is safe and secure.
The later part of the verse says “Do not be a party to his death!” this implies that if a child is not trained in the right way, it can lead to an untimely death. The child may engage in drug, drink-driving, and other dangerous things that can shorten his or her life.
The Bible says there is a way that seems right to a man, but the end of it is destruction (Proverbs 14: 12).
Permissive parents always allow their children to have their way so that they can avoid trouble or problem. This parenting style may not end well because it is not good for children to have their ways at all times.
Let there be a time that you will say “NO” to the children. Do not allow your children to take the driver’s seat in your home.
Put your feet down firmly and train them in the way they should go.
Be an authoritative parent- strike a balance between what the children want and what you as the parent know is good for them.
I pray that our children will not bring shame and reproach to us in Jesus name.
