There are very few things that are more disconcerting than a child that acts out in public. Whether they are throwing a tantrum to get what they want or trying to embarrass their parents to get them to do something, it makes everyone uncomfortable. As a Christian, we must correct our children when they do this. Discipline should never be seen as punishment, but instead as correction and guidance. Those parents who don’t discipline their children will reap a harvest of disgrace, those who do will reap a harvest of peace and delight.
Proverbs 29:15, 17
“A rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a youth left to himself is a disgrace to his mother.” “Discipline your child, and it will bring you peace of mind and give you delight.”
Impart Wisdom
This probably won’t be one of my most popular posts, but I try to take God’s Word for what it says and try to explain it to you. I think we all can admit that undisciplined children are a problem no matter where you go. Those children then turn into rebellious teenagers, who then turn into unemployable adults. There is a reason the author of Proverbs tells us to discipline our children.
Equip with Understanding
Correction imparts wisdom. Children don’t have the maturity or intelligence to do the right thing. When we discipline them, it establishes boundaries for behavior and guidance for the future. Wisdom is knowledge put into action. Many of us are full of information that is never acted on. It is only when we decide to do what we already know does it become wisdom. We need to equip our children with understanding, not just knowledge.
A Trail of Disgrace
Failure to impart wisdom leads to disgrace and embarrassment. A child left to his whims will spiral down into selfishness and excess. Excuses like “They are young. They don’t know.” is an excuse for our inaction. While it may seem innocent when they are young, over time it will build up and become difficult to overcome. Pretty soon they are humiliating the whole family.
A Harvest of Peace and Delight
When we decide to correct our children, we start to pave the path of peace and delight. It isn’t easy or quick, but if we start early with our children, it has an impact. A harvest of peace and delight begins with sowing seeds at the start and then weeding out all of the bad influences as it grows. Even if you didn’t start early, you could begin today. Correct your children to prevent the disgrace and improve the chances of peace and delight.