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Ring of Truth provides 366 daily ‘proofs’ that the Bible is consistent throughout from Genesis to Revelation, and relevant for our lives today!
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Proverbs 13:24
He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.
Controversial to the end. I wonder where Solomon got this one.
For all of David’s greatness – and he was the greatest king who ever lived – he failed miserably as a father. Whether he didn’t get to see his sons or just left them to the wisdom of his wives or courtiers, the outcome was disastrous. Among his children, there was rape, incest, murder and insurrection, to name just a few of the more obvious problems.
I know that it is true that all children still have a choice and can be wilful, but the fact remains that Scripture records that David did not act when he should have done so. (Neither did Eli, the priest - see 1 Samuel 2:12, 17, 27–34.) And I believe it is a picture of what is happening today.
Unfortunately, far too many fathers are abdicating their natural and spiritual obligations. Ever since the introduction of ‘the Pill’, men have been able to satisfy their sexual desires, regardless of their responsibilities, and the women who thought it would give them ‘freedom’ have found that they were the real losers.
Men became arrogant and irresponsible. Relationships became temporary and marriages just a convenience until they became irrelevant. The result was that children were born nevertheless and found themselves not only within discordant families but eventually dysfunctional and devastated families, which were broken apart. What a wonderful result. I think not.
Men are responsible for the family, whether they like it or not, and the level to which they accept those responsibilities will be in direct correlation to the stability of the family, and eventually, society in general. This not only relates to finances but also to relationships within the home. A man who loves his wife and shows it will have a more stable home and the children will more naturally submit to their parents (and all forms of authority).
But where a father doesn't show that love and abdicates his responsibilities, the children will not only disobey their mother but also play the two off against each other, producing anarchy. That is no recipe for discipline because it just ends in retaliation and anger-satisfying.
Oh, that more men would get involved with, learn from and put into practice advice from such agencies as Christian Men’s Network, Promise Keepers, Growing Kids God’s Way, Focus on the Family and Parenting with Confidence.
Children are born wilful. But through love and gently applied constructive discipline, they will become responsible adults. If you love your children and provide appropriate, firm and consistent discipline, the home can be a place of safety, love and joy. Then you will not have to endure the so-called terrible 2’s, the rebellious 5’s and the uncontrollable teenage years.
Instead, they can be a challenging delight, and years of fun and memories.
It is worth working at, standing for and developing.
Believe me, the rewards will follow in the end. Like many others, my wife and I have proved it.
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