Who Wants a Foolish Child?

The first commandment with a promise was to “Honor your father and mother” (Ex. 20:12). The promised blessing was “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth (Eph. 6:2).

Let me suggest this… it does not come naturally to a child to honor his father and mother… it requires some training.

Proverbs 29:15…

“The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself brings his mother shame.”

Children need to be corrected with words (reproof) and punishment (the rod). Do that and the child will become wise… ignore him and he will become a fool and bring shame.

In my business I sometimes see clients bring in Rottweiler or Chow puppies who growl or exhibit other types of aggressive behavior and they think it’s funny. I always counsel them to punish that type of behavior when they are puppies because when they get to be 100 pounds or so… it’s not going to be that funny and chances are they are going to be unable or unwilling to take the measures necessary to correct those behaviors.

That’s true for children too; generally it’s easier to correct a behavior when a kid is little than when he’s a teenager.

Look for opportunities to correct your child and even create opportunities for correction so that your child can honor and respect you and God will make it well with the child and he may live long on the earth.

Who wants a foolish child?