Proverbs 20:11-12 — Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.

Proverbs is a literal gold mine of advice and counsel for every area of life. And applied to the raising of children, it is doubly so. As children grow up, it is a parent’s responsibility to help them develop a Godly character. Without a Biblical foundation, a child will have only himself and the secular principles of his parents & friends to guide his decision making process. And because sin is “tangled up” in a child’s heart, those decisions can never glorify God without an understanding of God’s Word.

Everyone fails and children will act naughty sometimes. But when unruly deeds are repeated over and over without proper Biblical guidance, they will establish a cement a character that is, first, out of touch with God, and second, out of tune with society. Have you ever known someone who is consistently late? Or someone who is a habitual liar? If you live long enough, you’ll have the opportunity to pass by many of these kinds of people, or even work with them or be supervised by them. Observation alone should be enough motivation to make Biblical instruction a consistent part of parenting. And … we should make sure we “enforce” those lessons to ensure they are learned. Living a disciplined life is always a coordinated effort between God, parent and child … and it is vital that our children understand the meaning of obedience as it is lovingly demonstrated in our own lives as we obey God and His Word.