Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou
beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.
Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from
hell. Proverbs, Chapter 23, verses 13
and 14.
The Bible doesn’t mean it’s acceptable to beat your
child when you’ve had a hard day at work or you’ve lost your temper. I think this Bible verse is referring to them
getting a branch and swatting their child’s bottom when they have made
significant mistakes to warrant it. I
think this was done to motivate them to not make that severe of a mistake
again. (My parents used a paddle which
used to have a rubber ball attached. My
uncle drew a “frownie face” on it, which worked as a deterrent for more serious
infractions. My parents didn’t do this
in a fit of rage. Time out and logical
consequences seemed to work for most situations, but there are times when more
serious consequences are necessary.)
I think of talk shows that have mothers and fathers
as guests who can’t control their kids.
Their kids seem to control the adults and their household climate. Their children are hateful and self-willed
and bully other students at school. The
police are now holding the parents responsible for not controlling these
children. This Bible verse makes me
think it’s better to reprimand the children when they are younger than to have
to deal with the police later.
Of course, there are children who get into the wrong
groups and get involved in drugs and other vices that change the child’s whole
personality. That’s why it’s vitally
important that parents take an active role in their child’s life. It can be difficult when parents work and the
child has time to hang around with friends after school. Raising our children by taking them to Sunday
school and Church on a regular basis can prove to be beneficial. It is better that children grow up with
positive Christian values, rules and consequences. This may give them a better sense of right
and wrong that could keep them from being so vulnerable to negative
influences. It sure beats having to go
to court to explain why your child is unruly.
Here are some related passages:
*The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice:
and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him. Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and
she that bare thee shall rejoice.
Proverbs, Chapter 23, verses 24-25.
*Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea,
he shall give delight unto thy soul.
Proverbs, Chapter 29, verse 17.
Because this is an example of how I’ve applied this Bible passage to my life, it doesn't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the passage.
Please click on comments below to share your suggestions. Thanks! Debbie
