Week 47 - November 21st, 2021
Proverbs 22:6
6 Train up a child in the way he should go;
even when he is old he will not depart from it.
Context: The book of Proverbs is a collection of wise sayings, mostly attributed to King Solomon of Israel. Wisdom is characterized as the fabric with which the LORD God has woven the universe together. Wisdom is also the ability to make godly choices in life. Those who live by wisdom can generally expect their lives to be blessed. Those who despise wisdom will find their lives marked by folly and its ill results.
Meaning: Training implies an active process of teaching, talking, and being involved in the spiritual life of a child. This training is purposeful; it is focused on pointing the child in a specific direction—toward the wisdom of God’s Law. While this training may at times seem ineffective or even counterproductive, it is not meant to always have immediate observable effects. Its effectiveness is better gauged when it is examined in view of the whole life.
Life Application: There is perhaps no better verse in Proverbs where we should remember that proverbs are not promises. There is no cosmic guarantee that all those who raise their children in church will find them still attending in their later years. However, this proverb does depict real wisdom. If we want our children to follow the Lord we must train them diligently to follow Him. We cannot expect that simply dropping them off at church or sending them away to camp will “fix” them. Parents are the primary spiritual influence in the lives of their children. If we want our kids to be shaped by the Gospel, we must model the Gospel for them and teach the Gospel to them.
For Further Study: Deuteronomy 6 gives a practical guide for training our children in the way of the Lord. Deuteronomy 6:6–8 gives us a roadmap. In our church, we use the language of “modeling,” “time,” “moments,” and “milestones.” We try to always model godly behavior to our kids, regularly practicing things like prayer, Bible study, and confession. We want to make the most of our time, using car rides, vacations, and conversations for discipleship. In opportune moments and at key milestones we celebrate the grace of God as He works in our kids.