The Rod and Reproof

For Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Proverbs 29:15

The rod and reproof give wisdom,
but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.

It would seem that reasoning and instruction would give wisdom to a child. Such things do give wisdom when the heart is inclined to learn. But a child is not so inclined because he is born with the malady of being a sinner. As such, his heart is inclined to do as he pleases, which leads to rebellion and/or folly. Children are born with varying dispositions. Some show strong self-will, while others are even temperament and ready to please others. Whatever the disposition, they act according to what pleases themselves, and they will carry their dispositions to sinful extremes.

Thus, they need early on to receive appropriate discipline, which includes punishment for wrong-doing coupled with expressions of disapproval. Parents must be careful not to be harsh, fathers in particular because they are more likely to be so. But there is equal danger in harming the child by not providing appropriate discipline. A child left to his own devices will bring shame because he will act shamefully. He will not learn how to discipline himself. He will not learn how to set appropriate boundaries for his behavior. He will fail to learn how to discern the character of friends and associates. With no consequences to check his behavior, he will lead himself astray.
Wisdom is a trait that must be desired; it must be chosen. But if one has not learned discipline, he will choose the way of folly because folly appeals to his surface desires. It is the way of what seems pleasant at the moment. By its very nature, it keeps the individual from looking to the future, even the near future, and discerning consequences. No child naturally discerns future consequences. All he understands is immediate consequence. That is where discipline comes in - giving the child an immediate consequence by which he learns to discern what is good and bad for him. Over time, he develops discernment and learns to discipline himself for his good. But it all begins with the discipline rendered in the home.