“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.” Proverbs 22:6,15
The subject of these two verses is the same — children advance only to the degree of what is required of them. So often frustration exists because a parent expects something of their child on a special occasion, that they do not require of them on a regular basis. Training is a matter of requiring a child to be all the time what you expect them to be at some given time. While training requires work, discipline, and consistency, yet it is far less effort than having to deal with the problems associated with immature and irresponsible conduct.
“But godliness with contentment is great gain. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.” 1 Timothy 6:6,8. The opposite of this is something like: people would rather stay home and watch TV than they would go to God’s House, and they are bored with what they have and they are always wanting something else. This raises the issue of how important it is to train up our children to be thankful to God for what they have. The all important lesson to teach our children is for them to learn that whatsoever state they are in, therewith to be content — Philippians 4:11.
Having a thankful heart doesn’t change the events of our lives; rather it alters the way we look at and feel about them. “The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” Job 1:21. As children are taught to see blessings in the midst of uncertainty and difficulty, they learn that problems can be conquered, that difficulties can be solved, and that God is the true source of one’s joy.
Human nature is prone to be selfish and lustful. Thus, because gratitude does not come naturally to our children, we as parents must make a conscious effort to example and teach thankful behavior. Godly characteristics do not spontaneously grow within our children — they must be instilled in them. A child must be taught how to think right if they are going to act right. Proper thinking comes by way of proper teaching, proper exampleship and careful correction.
A person appreciates what they have labored for, more than what is just handed to them. This attribute must be cultivated in children. Spoiling our children rather than teaching them to work for life’s blessings and rewards only makes them selfish and insatiable.
SHARING
