Scriptural Discussion - Proverbs 22:6

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Proverbs 22:6

"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."

It is easy to read this verse and immediately say, "This means that if a child is properly reared by a Godly parent he will live for God when he leaves the home".

Humanly speaking, my problem is this - I know of some very Godly people who have adult children who are living ungodly lives.  I understand that because I view someone as Godly does not mean that they are so.  I am thinking about a couple to whom I am very close.  I have watched them live for God from the day they were married.  I have watched them love their children and rear them as close to Scripture as possible.  I have watched a son break their hearts.

Could it be that there is more to this verse than meets the initial eye?
 
RAIDER said:
Proverbs 22:6

"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."

It is easy to read this verse and immediately say, "This means that if a child is properly reared by a Godly parent he will live for God when he leaves the home".

Humanly speaking, my problem is this - I know of some very Godly people who have adult children who are living ungodly lives.  I understand that because I view someone as Godly does not mean that they are so.  I am thinking about a couple to whom I am very close.  I have watched them live for God from the day they were married.  I have watched them love their children and rear them as close to Scripture as possible.  I have watched a son break their hearts.

Could it be that there is more to this verse than meets the initial eye?
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Excellent question.

I remember Bro. Hyles teaching that if you train your children properly they will be living for the LORD when they are old as they did while they were growing up.

I often wondered about that teaching.

Was it only his personal philosophy or did it rest upon sure principles from scripture?

We really don't know how anyone raises their children, unless we live in their house.
 
bgwilkinson said:
Excellent question.

I remember Bro. Hyles teaching that if you train your children properly they will be living for the LORD when they are old as they did while they were growing up.

I often wondered about that teaching.

Was it only his personal philosophy or did it rest upon sure principles from scripture?

We really don't know how anyone raises their children, unless we live in their house.
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It is definitely a tough one.  If someone's children (who are living outside the home) are living for the Lord, they interpret this verse as I described in the OP.  My problem is that I have seen too many that don't seem to fit that interpretation.

I heard one preacher say that it means if you teach your children general character (work habits, being honest, etc) that they will continue these traits into adulthood.
 
Simple: it's a proverb, not a promise. 
 
There are two verses in the Bible that I find particularly challenging to understand/apply. This is one of them. Let me know when someone has a good answer...
 
rsc2a said:
Simple: it's a proverb, not a promise.
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I'm in shock because I'm in agreement!

It's like when King David said he's never seen the Lord's seed "begging bread".  He never met the beggar in Luke 16.

These are general principles and excellent to follow but they are no formula to eliminate free will or negate the sin nature.
 
I don't mean to hijack the thread, but is Eph. 6: 1-3 also a parable. Is it truly a promise or just a general principal?

I know a number of people who were very obedient children who died in their 20's & 30's.

Harlod Sightler often spoke of his daughter as the most Kind, Humble & Obedient child he had ever known. He said she had a wonderful spirit like no other child. Carolyn Grace Sightler died in a car wreck at the age of 11.

 
RAIDER said:
Proverbs 22:6

"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."

It is easy to read this verse and immediately say, "This means that if a child is properly reared by a Godly parent he will live for God when he leaves the home".

Humanly speaking, my problem is this - I know of some very Godly people who have adult children who are living ungodly lives.  I understand that because I view someone as Godly does not mean that they are so.  I am thinking about a couple to whom I am very close.  I have watched them live for God from the day they were married.  I have watched them love their children and rear them as close to Scripture as possible.  I have watched a son break their hearts.

Could it be that there is more to this verse than meets the initial eye?
Click to expand...

First of all...how old is OLD?  There is nothing quite so heartbreaking as doing your best to rear your children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord...providing them with a firm foundation in Christianity...and then watching them struggle, turn their back, and/or make poor decisions when they reach adulthood.

Second of all...we all have a free will.  We all struggle with the flesh.  (Well, maybe not Vince Massi....but the rest of us.) Sin is deceiving and no one is immune. 

My take on the verse in the OP is this:

IF we will train our children diligently...in the nurture and admonition of the Lord...giving them a firm foundation when they are young.....despite the mistakes, missteps, etc. in their youth and adulthood....when they are OLD they will come back to that firm foundation.  Don't give up on your wayward kids!  Don't turn your back on them, berate them, disown them, etc.  Wait.  Just wait. Pray.  Pray some more.  They WILL come back to the Lord.  They may be OLD when they do it.  They may get scarred by this world in the process...but when they are OLD...they will come back.  They may depart in their immature youth and young adulthood, but when they mature, they will understand and once they "buy into" Christianity on their own, they will NOT depart.  Some come to that point as kids, some as teenagers, some as adults and some it takes a life of testing out the ways of the world to figure out that Christianity is REAL. Once they get to that point, they will NOT depart.  Hang in there frightened parents!

I think this is one of the most encouraging verses in the entire Bible!





 
RAIDER said:
Proverbs 22:6

"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."

Could it be that there is more to this verse than meets the initial eye?
Click to expand...

This verse is certainly no guarantee that the child will not go astray. What it does guarantee is, if the child strays from the training he or she received at home, they will never be able to "depart from it."

In other words, they will have to "step over" that training every day of their lives. The godly values and principles that were engrained in them as a child will resonate in their heart and in their minds their entire life. They may ignore the teaching, but they'll never be able to "depart" from the teaching/training.   

That's my .02 cents worth.
 
First of all, I agree with rsc2a that this is a principle and not a promise.

I've heard taught 3 explanations:

1. Guarantee that a kid will turn out right if he is reared that way.

2. "In the way he should go" translates to "according to his bent". This means that when finding the skill with which your child excels, he won't abandon it when he learns those skills.

3. (I think this one most closely explains how I interpret it.) This passage is a verse thrown in among those dealing with finances and riches so the context is about rearing a child with financial integrity and shows compassion toward those who are less fortunate.

1 A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.

2 The rich and the poor meet together; the Lord is the maker of them all.

3 The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it.

4 The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life.

5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the crooked; whoever guards his soul will keep far from them.

6 Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

7 The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender.

8 Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity,and the rod of his fury will fail.

9 Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.
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The last 2 posts are very thought provoking.  Thanks!
 
I've heard it said that, you know you have passed your faith to your children when your grandchildren are serving the Lord. 
 
Bruh said:
I've heard it said that, you know you have passed your faith to your children when your grandchildren are serving the Lord.
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I have also heard that statement.  I believe I heard it from Pastor James Rushing.
 
Bruh said:
I've heard it said that, you know you have passed your faith to your children when your grandchildren are serving the Lord.
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Amen. I've already told my children the test of my parenting will be what their children are like.
 
My opinion -for what little it's worth on this- is that Proverbs 22:6 is a warning that how you rear your kid is how they will turn out.  Someone taught that a kid is only truly loved if they realize that they are loved..."speaking their language" if you will.  A godly person can still make huge mistakes in his child rearing.

But Smellin Coffee's look at the context is a much better answer.  Not sure why I haven't looked at the context of that verse more than I have.  Thank you.
 
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