Excerpt 3: God's Promises to Parents

God promises blessings for parents who properly train their children (Proverbs 10:1a; 23:24 & 25; 29:17; 31:28).

God also warns of cursing for parents who don't (Proverbs 10:1b; 17:21: 29:15b).

Our children are now 37, 34, and 32. The joy my wife and I have experienced from seeing each of them consistently apply God's Word to their lives, and in the training of their own children, exceeds any human happiness we have known from anything else in our lives. Each adult child has experienced his or her share of tribulation; ill health, death of a loved one, deprivation, painful relationships, and shattered dreams. However, they have all acted maturely, i.e. taken responsibility for their own actions, accepted their own consequences, and depended on God to deliver them through their pressure-filled trials. Two of our children experienced a brief period of seeking their own way -- following their own opinions. Eventually, they each willingly turned their lives back to God. Praise Him!

God's grace exceeded His promises in our family's case. Our oldest child was already nine when Virginia and I were saved. None of our children had the head start of Biblical child training, church, or Christian education during their very important formative years. But, my wife and I committed ourselves to God and to following His Word after our salvation, and He was faithful and fair to our children.

Over the years, I have spoken to thousands of concerned parents and a particular question often arises: "Is it really a promise from God that our children will turn out okay if we properly train them?" Some Christian authors have denied this concept. Please note that it is not just Proverbs 22:6 "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." that indicates a guarantee. All of the other passages cited in this lesson warn us that young adults are the products of their upbringing. It seems very clear to me that parents who raise their child to be a fool (one who rejects God's Word in living his life) will reap the promise of cursing. Equally clear is the promise that training up a wise child, who honors his parents as well as God's Word, will result in blessings for both parents and child.

Exodus 20:12 "Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee."

Ephesians 6:2 & 3 "Honor thy father and mother (which is the first commandment with promise), That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth."

I have never known of a child "going bad" who was raised by a Christian father and mother who both practiced: a right marriage (father in leadership, mother in support, both operating in love and justice), and; correct child training principles (with a proper balance between controlling and teaching). On the other hand, I have met a great number of young adults who have paid a terrible price because their Christian parents failed in properly training them. Some of these young adults have been delivered by God's grace from not being trained and now understand the source of their problems. Each and every one of these restored ones are now committed not to repeat their parents' mistakes.

My prayer is that parents who read What the Bible Says About . . . Child Training will commit themselves to: train up their children in the way they should go.

_{This excerpt was taken from What the Bible Says About . . . Child Training, 2nd edition, Chapter 2
It is available at your favorite Christian book store, or from the author.}