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Proverbs 29:17

Foolish parents often say, "We can let it go this time. If he does it again, then we will do something." What a dangerous idea! Ignoring a problem does not help it go away! Ignoring sinful conduct reinforces it in a child! It will be harder to correct later! It will also be easier for the parents to procrastinate again the next time. And before they realize it, they will have established the terrible habit of overlooking a child's wicked behavior.

Many parents overlook sinful conduct to preserve domestic tranquility. They crave peace at home. They hope that giving a child some slack will keep things comfortable and calm. They are terribly mistaken! The proverb teaches that rest and delight depend on correcting children, not accomodating them! Though seeking peace, many parents end up forfeiting it! A short loss of peace to correct a child is the low price for long-term peace.

The wisest parent you will ever meet, King Solomon, warned against letting child discipline slide. He wrote, "The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame" (29:15). The rule is simple; the consequences are terrible. The pain and shame that some mothers have endured are enormous. And why? They chose to take the road of compromise and not correct their children with tough love.

The rod and reproof will correct and train children to return wonderful joy to their parents. The promise is sure: "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it" (22:6). "Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him" (22:15). Do not procrastinate! Every time you put off the inevitable, you harm your child and sacrifice your future pleasure.

If you love your children, you will aggressively save them from dysfunctional lives (3:12; 23:13-14). You will not delay in this great matter. "He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes" (13:24). Betimes means to do it early, speedily, before it is too late. "Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying" (19:18). Only hatred and lazy ignorance would cause you to delay. It is these and other parental sins that have spawned the most selfish generation in history.

Your Father in heaven exceeds Solomon in wisdom. He only practices perfect child discipline (3:11-12; Ps 119:75; Heb 12:5-17; Rev 3:19). In order to perfect you, He uses various means to punish your sins. And what a privilege it is, for He does not correct those He never loved or adopted (Heb 12:6-8; I Cor 11:32). This is the proof of His love; it is for your profit; and you should delight in it (Ps 119:67,71; Rom 5:3-5; Jas 1:2-4).

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