Proverbs 22:6
“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” (KJV)
As far as this verse being a promise or a principle, I take the position that it is a principle
by which parents should raise their children. My reason for this is, the verb that is used “train,”
implies doing something until it become second nature, or as it pertains to the verse, to teach a
child to behavior in a way that is pleasing to the Lord. This verse suggests that good moral
training or “the instruction of the Lord” (Eph 6:4), started early in the child life, can have a long-
lasting effect. It also bears the truth that those who are steered down the path of wisdom will
forever be influenced by it throughout their life. However, the verse does not guarantee that the
child will fully embrace this path for themselves; eventually children make their own choices in
life.
Next is that, when it comes to raising a child, the parents aren’t the only one that has
influence on the child’s life. Now the parents for a time might have more say in what the child is
being taught, but as the child grows, they will learn things from other family members, teachers
in school, friends, television and even social media and games. So, while the good lessons are
being taught, from a very young age they also must be learning to take the sweet with the bitter
and differentiate between the two. This again leads the child to a crossroad later in life when they
will have to choose good or evil, life or death.
And for my last point, a lack of knowledge on the parents’ part. Many times, we hear
stories of children growing up in Christian homes and eventually come to a place where they
reject Christianity altogether because of their experience growing up. A lot of time parents who
are still young in the faith, are too harsh on their children because they are trying to save them
from the evil of the world. But in doing this they forget to show more love and so instead of
planting good moral values that will lead them to a deeper relationship with their heavenly father
or at the least be good upstanding citizens; instead, it leads them to a life of resentment against
the parents, God, and having a sour outlook on life. Now of course the parents aren't the only
ones that could possibly ruin this for the child however sometimes it is more on the parents.
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