Training up Children

Christians love to use the scripture in Proverbs that says to "train up a child in the way he should go." I wonder, though, if we get the full meaning of what is being said there. Here it is in the Amplified Bible, which expands on the meanings of words in the original Hebrew:

Proverbs 22:6--Train up a child in the way he should go [and in keeping with his individual gift or bent], and when he is old he will not depart from it. (AMP)

Sort of puts a different spin on it, doesn't it?

To "train up a child in the way he should go" does not mean to force your kids into a mold or to decide for yourself what that "way" is. Rather, it means to seek out God's plan for your kids. Identify their gifts and listen to their interests--try to aim them at God's purpose for their lives.

Ephesians 6:4 reminds us, "Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord." In other words, don't bring them up in your own training and instruction--that's exasperating! Rather, bring them up in the Lord's training and instruction! We need to keep our focus on Christ at all times!

If you do this, then "when they are old, they will not depart from it." By helping your child discover their identity at a young age, they won't have to struggle so much trying to figure it out on their own as an adolescent. Furthermore, as they enter adulthood, they will already have a firm foundation in Christ from which they will not depart.

Train up your children according to their individual gifts and in the instruction of the Lord!

God bless!
--Art--