Proverbs on Parenting Solomon wrote, “Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers” (Proverbs 17:6).  Most young people look forward to a day when they have a child of their own.  Thoughts of children in the home are exciting and joyous.  (Psalm 127:4-5) [David’s words], “Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth. 5 Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; they shall not be ashamed, but shall speak with their enemies in the gate.” The happiness of having a child is difficult to put in words.  Christians must always remember; however, that there are great responsibilities that come with having children. Some parents do very well at raising their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.  It is so important for a parent to be selfless, loving, patient and consistent as they correct and raise their children. The biggest thing a parent learns when a baby is born. You are no longer single and without care, and you must not act as if you are! While that time was a blessing, it is a wonderful thing to now give yourself completely to protect and ensure the welfare of a human being that is completely dependent upon you. Fortunately, God’s word serves as a type of instruction manual on how to act, both as a parent and as a child. Our time today will be spent on examining some of those instructions, found in the book of Proverbs

Proverbs 22:6 2 Corinthians 9:6 Proverbs 4:1-4 Proverbs 15:17 Love in the Home Proverbs 22:6 2 Corinthians 9:6 Proverbs 4:1-4 Proverbs 15:17 Parental Responsibility in the Home (Proverbs 22:6), “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” The passage clearly establishes the responsibility that falls on the shoulders of parents Time and energy MUST be expended. But, if it is done, there is a great truth that pertains to the idea (2 Corinthians 9:6), “But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” Love in the Home The first area of responsibility that parents are to meet is to love their children.  Solomon gives advise to parents in the area of love by looking to his own childhood and how he was treated with a since of loving tenderness (Proverbs 4:1-4), “Hear, my children, the instruction of a father, and give attention to know understanding; 2 for I give you good doctrine: do not forsake my law. 3 When I was my father's son, tender and the only one in the sight of my mother, 4 he also taught me, and said to me: ‘Let your heart retain my words; keep my commands, and live.” Imagine a home where tenderness and affectionate love does not exist. Unfortunately, many homes are filled with bitterness, anger, harsh, and cruel treatment of each other.  God intends for the home to be a loving and caring atmosphere (Proverbs 15:17), “Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a fatted calf with hatred.”

7 Things to Teach Your Children Proverbs 23:17 Not to Envy Sinners Teach your Children The parent is also responsible for teaching their children.  Solomon delivers seven critical things that a parent ought to teach their children in Proverbs 23:15-25. (Proverbs 23:15-25), “My son, if your heart is wise, my heart will rejoice—indeed, I myself; 16 ye, my inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak right things. 17 Do not let your heart envy sinners, but be zealous for the fear of the Lord all the day; 18 for surely there is a hereafter, and your hope will not be cut off. 19 Hear, my son, and be wise; and guide your heart in the way. 20 Do not mix with winebibbers, or with gluttonous eaters of meat; 21 for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and drowsiness will clothe a man with rags. 22 Listen to your father who begot you, and do not despise your mother when she is old. 23 Buy the truth, and do not sell it, also wisdom and instruction and understanding. 24 The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice, and he who begets a wise child will delight in him. 25 Let your father and your mother be glad, and let her who bore you rejoice.”  First, a parent ought to teach their children not to envy sinners (Proverbs 23:17).  While it may seem like the world of sinners are having fun their unlawful activities are leading them toward destruction (1 Corinthians 15:32-34), [A common view of those who have no thought of eternity], “If the dead do not rise, ‘Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!’ [Paul’s response],  33 Do not be deceived: ‘Evil company corrupts good habits.” 34 Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God.’”

7 Things to Teach Your Children Proverbs 23:17 Fear God Always Secondly, teach your children to fear God (Proverbs 23:17b).  (Proverbs 23:17), “Do not let your heart envy sinners, but be zealous for the fear of the Lord all the day.” Consider how Solomon identifies the fear of Jehovah (Proverbs 3:7), “Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil.” (Proverbs 8:13), “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate.”

7 Things to Teach Your Children Proverbs 23:17 Proverbs 23:19 Guide your heart in the way Thirdly, a parent ought to teach their children to “guide your heart in the way” (Proverbs 23:19).  Nurturing of the heart is of utmost importance.  (Proverbs 4:23), “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.” There is much the parent can do to instill interest, knowledge, understanding, conviction, and obedience in their children However, this text proves that it is ultimately up to the child themselves to put the principles they learn to practice.  Each child must “Keep your [own] heart.”

7 Things to Teach Your Children Proverbs 23:17 Proverbs 23:19 Proverbs 23:20-21 Stay away from alcohol Fourthly, a parent is to instruct their children to stay away from alcohol and those who partake of it (Proverbs 23:20-21), “Do not mix with winebibbers, or with gluttonous eaters of meat; 21 For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and drowsiness will clothe a man with rags.” [see also] (Proverbs 23:31-32), “Do not look on the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it swirls around smoothly; 32 At the last it bites like a serpent, and stings like a viper.” On the radio a couple of days ago, (sportstalk/guy talk), the young men were talking about their experiences with alcohol Almost all of them had parents who made the choice to not only allow drinking, but to enable it! With the dangers of alcoholism and sexual promiscuity, the dangers of such choices are evident! Alcohol and drugs will drag an individual down.  It is more often than not that a perverse beer drinker will bring your child down rather than your child bringing that person up.  Why would anyone want to put themselves in the company of drinking and drugs?

7 Things to Teach Your Children Proverbs 23:17 Proverbs 23:19 Proverbs 23:20-21 Proverbs 23:22 Honor & Respect Parents Fifthly, teach your children to honor and respect their father and mother (Proverbs 23:22), “Listen to your father who begot you, and do not despise your mother when she is old.” Children that are not taught to honor and respect their parents will not honor and respect others in positions of authority.  Some of the greatest problems within the church today revolve around this issue (2 Peter 2:9-11), “the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment, 10 and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries, 11 whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord.” (Jude 8), “Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries.”

7 Things to Teach Your Children Proverbs 23:23 Proverbs 23:17 Proverbs 23:19 Proverbs 23:20-21 Proverbs 23:22 Buy the truth, do not sell it Sixthly, a child is to be taught to “buy the truth and do not sell it” (Proverbs 23:23).  To succeed in this area is to attain victory as a parent.  A child who does not see the value in wisdom and truth is a child destined for heartaches now and forevermore.  The wise king Solomon saw it…. (Proverbs 4:7-9), “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding. 8 Exalt her, and she will promote you; she will bring you honor, when you embrace her. 9 She will place on your head an ornament of grace; a crown of glory she will deliver to you.” Imagine a young man or woman today willing to spend more time studying God’s word and praying than playing a video game, texting on a cell phone, playing a baseball game, or watching a favorite television program.  More often than not it is the phone, game or television that grabs the majority of their time and interest.  Wisdom is important, valuable, and when people see the true value of wisdom demonstrated in your life, they too will share your faith, conviction, zeal, and intense interest in the things of God.

7 Things to Teach Your Children Proverbs 23:23 Proverbs 23:17 Proverbs 23:24-25 Proverbs 23:19 Proverbs 23:20-21 Proverbs 23:22 Make your parents happy! Lastly, parents are to teach their children to act in such a way as to please them. (Proverbs 23:24-25), “The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice, and he who begets a wise child will delight in him. 25 Let your father and your mother be glad, and let her who bore you rejoice.” It is the rebellious child that brings sorrow and grief to the family.  The child who gives heed to the above principles will bring joy and happiness to the home.  The rebellious, alcohol drinker, drug abuser, and disrespectful will bring unrest and sadness to a home. 

Discipline and Correction Proverbs 13:24 Proverbs 29:15 Ephesians 6:4 Proverbs 10:17 Proverbs 22:15 Proverbs 19:18 Discipline and correction Parents also have the responsibility to administer timely discipline and correction to children.  Consider the fact that discipline and correction equates to love.  (Proverbs 13:24), “He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him promptly.” (Proverbs 29:15), “The rod and rebuke give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.” To fail in the area of discipline and correction is to ruin a child.  Imagine a world in which there were no consequences for wrong doing.  Such a place would be without a government to exercise civil order.  The society would be a free for all.  People would not think twice above doing evil because there are no consequences to their actions.  A parent that does not discipline their child ruins that person’s hope of gaining wisdom.  Typically, rather than instruction we see yelling, nagging and harping… Such actions by the parent does nothing other than bringing a child to a point of exasperation! (Ephesians 6:4), “And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.” When a child’s error is corrected wisdom will result (Proverbs 10:17), “He who keeps instruction is in the way of life, but he who refuses correction goes astray.” Physical punishment is a part of God’s instructions regarding training the child correctly (Proverbs 22:15), “Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; the rod of correction will drive it far from him.” When the foolishness and shame is removed the child has hope (Proverbs 19:18), “Chasten your son while there is hope, and do not set your heart on his destruction.”

Conclusion Parenting is not easy, but as we raise our children to be good people and faithful Christians, we will have times of great joy and satisfaction. Following these words of wisdom will bring a home great joy, and make parent and child pleasing to God! Conclusion: Parenting is not easy, but as we raise our children to be good people and faithful Christians, we will have times of great joy and satisfaction. Following these words of wisdom will bring a home great joy, and make parent and child pleasing to God! (Proverbs 13:13), “He who despises the word will be destroyed, but he who fears the commandment will be rewarded.” Both parents and children need to heed the will of God. Remember, Heaven is our goal and our reward for faithfulness to Him!