While There Is Hope

Read Proverbs 19

Discipline your children while there is hope. Otherwise you will ruin their lives.

Proverbs 19:18

When parents worry about ruining their children’s lives, they often think of not giving them enough material things, not providing the shelter and food they need, or making them endure their parents’ separation or divorce. All these circumstances certainly can affect girls and boys, but today’s proverb has a bigger culprit in mind. Lack of discipline can actually ruin their lives, not merely produce annoying adults.

Why the strong language? Isn’t the word “ruin” a bit extreme? No, because the lack of discipline establishes a pattern of behavior and attitude that will follow children until the day they die. They can lose out on the hope that the first part of the verse mentions—the hope of living a life that has been disciplined to love and serve God. Undisciplined people have an attitude of entitlement and an assumption that they are immune to punishment: If they got what they wanted as kids, then they will get what they want as adults. Parents can despair over this, or they can turn to God for the strength and consistency to discipline while there is still hope.

A WORD FOR TODAY

Good parenting recognizes limited time and opportunity.

Today, Lord, give all parents the strength and grace to discipline their children.