Chasten your son while there is hope: and let not your soul spare for his crying (Prov 19:18).
Disciplining children at a young age while opportunity still exists for molding their lives is increasingly neglected in this age of permissiveness. Parents are in a major part responsible for the consequences which result because of the failure to do so. Elsewhere Proverbs warns about withholding the rod of discipline, for even a child is known by his behavior (Prov 20:11). A sinful nature resulting from man’s Fall in Eden begins to manifest itself in childhood as seen with self-centeredness, and in selfishness and sibling rivalry. But a faithful parent is not deterred from applying chastening when needed just because of the crying which results when a child is held accountable for actions which do not reflect the ways of God. After the child grows into adulthood, there’s less hope of being able to apply effective chastening. In Proverbs 22:6, parents are again instructed on the importance of discipline with their children: Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it. If a child fails to learn that a sharp distinction exists between right and wrong, and that consequences exist for their choices, they enter adulthood very impaired as to decision-making. Hebrews 5:14 emphasizes that the mature in Christ have their senses trained by use so as to discern what is good versus evil. This training begins in childhood by parents who teach a child the way he should go so that in later years he will walk in righteousness, even though he stumble at times by taking paths not reflecting the ways of God. God-honoring parents will not be slack in this responsibility. They will recognize that foolishness is bound in the hearts of children at birth so they must be trained to live dedicated to the will of God by loving and patient correction. Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child: but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him (Prov 22:15). A rod of correction is not restricted to physical means as the only form of driving away rebellion and foolishness from the hearts of children. But discipline in some way is essential lest foolishness be allowed to remain as a way of life. For unless godly ways are firmly taught by parents with a rod of correction, children will not be encouraged to receive God’s discipline later as adults. Instead they will find themselves prone to influence by destructive temptations which can lead one to spiritual as well as physical death. The latter is in evidence across America today in a generation of young people who have turned from God in great numbers. They are attempting to satisfy worldly lusts with sexual immorality and drug abuse, and the consequences are heart-breaking. Proverbs 23:13,14 has warned, Withhold not correction from the child: for if you beat him with the rod, he shall not die. You shall beat him with the rod and shall deliver his soul from hell. Again we have an admonition to not withhold discipline from a child. This latter proverb warns that failure to exercise biblical parenting and see that wrong decisions are not excused (including prudent use of physical punishment) risks failing to deliver the child’s soul from eternal damnation. The old saying ‘Spare the rod and spoil the child’ is no longer considered acceptable, having been replaced by parental permissiveness with disastrous consequences. Yet in this present age, an effective rod of correction is readily available in America. Simply deny a child (including teens) their use of electronics like TV and cell phones, and be willing to bear the crying which results.
