Text: Proverbs 22:6 NKJV

Further Reading: 1 Samuel 2:27-36

Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:6 NKJV

MESSAGE

The guilt of most fathers is their inability to train their children. The result is that those children become a snare to them and society. It is the responsibility of fathers to train their children, and when fathers fail to train their children, society becomes chaotic.

God was so confident about Abraham that he will train his children. Can God be confident about you as a father or a potential father? Though it is the responsibility of both parents to train a child but the big responsibility lies with the father.

It is important to note that God trains us as his children. He does this to make the best out of us. The Bible says that because He (God) loves us, he sometimes uses a rod and chastens us (Hebrews 12:6-11). Unfortunately, we have parents who will not use the rod of correction on their children.

In Proverbs 13:24, The Bible says, He who spares his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him promptly.
Proverbs 13:24 NKJV.

In our reading of the day, the Bible told us the story of Eli and how his failure to correct his children led to their destruction and his doom. It is a costly error for fathers to be running up and down without training their children.

What you give to your children is not a substitute for the moral training you give them. Fathers must begin to sit at home when they can and train their children, or else those children will remain thorns in his flesh.

Fathers should never forget that they will give account for their children before God. Therefore, give your best to them, and will become your jewel instead of objects of shame and ridicule.

REFLECTION

The rod and rebuke give wisdom, But a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.

Proverbs 29:15 NKJV

The English people say, “Spare the rod and spoil the child”, but I must tell you that there is a greater consequence beyond the child being spoilt. You will not only spoil that child’s life, but you also spoil your own old age as well. Fathers must put in their best to see that their children turn out great in the end.

PRAYER

Father, please help our fathers to train their children in godly fear and discipline.