Respect or Anger?

There is some Bible evidence for the idea that the most important thing you can teach your children is… respect.

Number five of the 10 Commandments commands children to respect their parents. The first four commandments deal with God, the rest of the commandments deal with how we interact with others and of those commandments, respecting one’s parents is numero uno.

How important is the command? Children who violated it were to be put to death.

So, arguably, the most important thing you can do for a child is to teach him respect. Teach a child respect and God will bless him and you. Fail to teach him respect and God will curse that child in life and in death. A rebellious child causes great misery to parents.

Parents have the ability to teach a child respect and also have the ability to teach a child anger and rebellion.

How do you teach a child to be angry? Be a poor example. Make one set of rules for a child and a different set of rules for yourself. Sit in front of the TV every night and drink beer and ignore your family. Be selfish, always think of yourself first. Over punish the kid for minor infractions. Show preferential treatment between your kids… call one smart and the other one stupid. Do what ever you can to always criticize and never praise or encourage your kids.

Do these things and you will have earned for yourself a miserable life and a seat on the front row in Hell and you likely will have driven your child to Hell.

Work at training your child respect and things will be… well.