Proper Parenting is Paramount

1 A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches,
    and favor is better than silver or gold.
2 The rich and the poor meet together;
    the LORD is the Maker of them all.
3 The prudent sees danger and hides himself,
    but the simple go on and suffer for it.
4 The reward for humility and fear of the LORD
    is riches and honor and life.^{1

22:4
Or The reward for humility is the fear of the LORD, riches and honor and life}
5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the crooked;
    whoever guards his soul will keep far from them.
6 Train up a child in the way he should go;
    even when he is old he will not depart from it.
7 The rich rules over the poor,
    and the borrower is the slave of the lender.
8 Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity,
    and the rod of his fury will fail.
9 Whoever has a bountiful^{2

22:9
Hebrew good} eye will be blessed,
    for he shares his bread with the poor.
10 Drive out a scoffer, and strife will go out,
    and quarreling and abuse will cease.
11 He who loves purity of heart,
    and whose speech is gracious, will have the king as his friend.
12 The eyes of the LORD keep watch over knowledge,
    but he overthrows the words of the traitor.
13 The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside!
    I shall be killed in the streets!”
14 The mouth of forbidden^{3

22:14
Hebrew strange} women is a deep pit;
    he with whom the LORD is angry will fall into it.
15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child,
    but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
16 Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth,
    or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty.

Words of the Wise

17 Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise,
    and apply your heart to my knowledge,
18 for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you,
    if all of them are ready on your lips.
19 That your trust may be in the LORD,
    I have made them known to you today, even to you.
20 Have I not written for you thirty sayings
    of counsel and knowledge,
21 to make you know what is right and true,
    that you may give a true answer to those who sent you?

22 Do not rob the poor, because he is poor,
    or crush the afflicted at the gate,
23 for the LORD will plead their cause
    and rob of life those who rob them.
24 Make no friendship with a man given to anger,
    nor go with a wrathful man,
25 lest you learn his ways
    and entangle yourself in a snare.
26 Be not one of those who give pledges,
    who put up security for debts.
27 If you have nothing with which to pay,
    why should your bed be taken from under you?
28 Do not move the ancient landmark
    that your fathers have set.
29 Do you see a man skillful in his work?
    He will stand before kings;
    he will not stand before obscure men.

Footnotes

[1] 22:4 Or The reward for humility is the fear of the LORD, riches and honor and life
[2] 22:9 Hebrew good
[3] 22:14 Hebrew strange

There have been several occasions to think about parenting lately. Sweet friends having their first child, my brother and his wife expecting theirs in September, not to mention the inevitable reflections from parents surrounding graduation and a wedding. I confess: I am simultaneously pumped up and terrified by the idea of becoming a parent one day (Lord willing), and this chapter of Proverbs explains why.
As we read through Proverbs and glean the wisdom the Lord has imparted to us, I think it is natural for all of us to think about how we can apply the lessons we learn to our own personal lives. How can I be more humble (verse 4)? How can I eliminate/stay out of debt (verse 7)? How can I become more disciplined in memorizing Scripture (verses 17-18)? While attempting to apply the Proverbs to our own lives is absolutely good and correct, verse 6 implies that it does not stop there. Each piece of wisdom that we view as practical is also parental. What we teach ourselves should be taught to our children.
So why the excitement and horror at the thought of parenting? “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” That is so exciting because it takes a lot of the guessing out of how to raise a godly child (meaning you should teach your kids biblical principles). But it is also somewhat terrifying because the responsibility that falls on a parent from this verse is monumental. The training you put your children through now reflects the kind of person they will be as an adult. And if you train as you should, you can ensure that they will cling to the principles you have taught them for the rest of their lives.
While our one month of marriage has not resulted in a child (apparently it takes nine?), this verse has struck a chord with us as we begin to develop our parenting philosophy for if and when the Lord chooses to bless us in that way.

1. What specific pieces of wisdom has the Lord opened your eyes to as you go through His Word?
2. How are you teaching these principles to your children? (Note that it’s never too early to begin the process of training your child for righteousness!)
3. If you are not a parent (like David and I), how does this verse affect the way you view raising children?