Spare the Rod - Spoil the Child

No-one anticipates raising children who turn out rebellious or spoiled. However, that is the result of parents who fail to discipline their children. If a child grows up under weak authority or no authority, they will most likely turn into disrespectful human beings. I have discovered that if I really love my children, I will go the extra mile to correct them when they do wrong.

Joanna and I have had great success over the years in disciplining our children. However, recently, we have needed to coach one of our children to a better understanding of the motive and reason for discipline. He has come to the conclusion that discipline, because it is painful, is done out of our dislike of him. He feels that because we discipline him, and discipline is painful, we somehow don't like him. That is the furthest thing from the truth.

Anytime our children have questions, it is the perfect time for a teachable moment. We have taken this opportunity to teach our child about the reason why he is disciplined. First of all, it is biblical. 

Proverbs 12:1 "Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid."

Proverbs 13:24 "Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them."

Proverbs 15:5 "A fool spurns a parent’s discipline, but whoever heeds correction shows prudence."

Proverbs 15:32 "Those who disregard discipline despise themselves, but the one who heeds correction gains understanding."

Proverbs 19:18 "Discipline your children, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to their death."

Secondly, we discipline out of love, because we know what is best for our children. If we desire for our children to grow up as mature, respectful and Christ honoring individuals, that begins in the home. Parents are the first authority figures in the life of a child. Parents set their children up for a future of success or failure as it relates to responding to the authority figures in position over them for the rest of their lives. In my years as a youth pastor, I have been around many students who have shown a lack of respect for authority. In most situations, this falls back on their parents. In these situations, it will be up to the students to develop a respect for authority on their own because their parents failed to teach them. They will be more likely to live a problematic life because of their failure to respect authority.

Discipline is vital to a child's well-being. By finding a form of discipline that works, we are setting our children up for a lifetime of obedience. We are God's system for developing children who submit to earthly authority, but most importantly we are coaching them to be sensitive to obey God's authority.