Topic: Let Them Be Trained! [DCLM Daily Manna 16 July 2020 Daily Devotional by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi]
Text: Proverbs 22:1-15
1 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.
2 The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all.
3 A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.
4 By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.
5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them.
6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
7 The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
8 He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.
9 He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.
10 Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.
11 He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.
12 The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor.
13 The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.
14 The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein.
15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
Key Verse: “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” – (Proverbs 22:6)
MESSAGE:
Dr. Benjamin Spock was an American paediatrician and political activist who was most noted for his book Baby and Child Care. The book significantly changed widely held attitudes toward the raising of infants and children, championing the cause for no cane or spanking of children even when they misbehave. Several years after, his grandson Peter, committed suicide by jumping off the roof of the children museum in Boston where he was working. What a tragedy! God’s principle for raising children remains the best for all time and disproves all others.
Our text for today harps on the importance of child training in the family. The verses contain various moral and spiritual virtues which parents must imbibe in their children. It also identifies vices to shun. It begins with the importance of possessing a good name. This is a price far above riches, silver and gold. The virtues of prudency, foresight, humility and the fear of God must be instilled in our children to guarantee them riches, honour and good life.
Parents must inculcate in their children the art of generosity. They must be taught how to give for God’s work. Also, emphasis must be placed on the need for purity of heart as well as possessing gracious lips in order to be a friend of God. Children must be taught to shun vices such as borrowing and they should learn to be content with what they have. They should be taught to avoid sin, anger and slothfulness as well as how not to fall into the trap of immoral people lurking for their souls.
The text concludes that foolishness naturally abounds in the heart of children but the rod of correction, applied with love, when and where necessary, will eject such foolishness and rebellion. Children must be trained and corrected to bring out the best in them.
Thought For The Day: Spare the rod, spoil the child.
The Bible In One Year: 1 Chronicles 16-20
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
