The Training Principle

When one justly exegetes the contextual environment of Proverbs 22, it is clear that the notorious sage Solomon is unveiling a buffet of unrelated principles that lead to righteous living.  In this one chapter, there is substantive counsel concerning leadership, business, relationships, finances, and a collection of topics. This is not a pericope of promise-purposed parenting guidelines, but this one verse is intended to stand out as one of the principles that Solomon is interjecting about childrearing. “God wants one generation to follow another in his ways. God accomplishes this objective through the agency of parental instruction.” [1] Who best understands this parenting dynamic than the wise son that sat under the tutelage of the beloved King David, and the experienced father who had managed several children and hundreds of wives? This training principle found in Proverbs 22:6 implies that if godly discipline, affection, instruction, and examples are provided for a child then that child is not prone to deviate from their foundation. The content here is a principle because in reality, there are several things that can be trained in its beginning and not stray away from its training when it is older. Dolphins can be trained to jump through hoops, dogs can be trained to sniff out illegal substances, and children can be trained in the ways of the Lord. Hence, the principle of training in any realm yields lasting results on the trained. This is what should happen, but as it relates to children, this is not a guaranteed promise because there are so many nuances that could detour a child from the faithful paths they are taught to take. As it is with other biblical principles, when this parenting principle is adequately applied, it has the proclivity of becoming reality; but there are so many variables that could impede the progress of this principle. Choice, culture, and character can be major roadblocks to the child walking in righteousness later on their lives.

         Children have choice. As innately autonomous beings, when a child transitions into adulthood they become products of their own choices. Tedd Tripp suggests that “the person your child becomes is a product of two things. The first is his life experience. The second is how he interacts with that experience.” [2] The parents may have some influence on the various things that a child encounters, but a parent is never in charge of their responses in those situations. The entire canon of scripture portrays the consequences of the decisions that several people made in response to different circumstances. Joshua follows the treasured Old Testament leader Moses, but Joshua still has to choose to follow the Lord when it is his time to lead. In his prolific message to the Children of Israel, Joshua propagates, “Choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15 KJV). Unfortunately, children can grow up and regretfully choose differently.

         Culture is an impactful institution that can negate some of the training a child receives. “Like Old Testament Israel, you too, are subject to the powerful influence of your culture. Like Israel, you must reject things in the culture that are abhorrent to Jehovah your God.” [3] It is human nature to desire to be accepted by society and within the context of present culture. However, this same secular system follows norms that are the total antithesis of the biblical principles of faith so they will always lead people away from the will of God. Paul warns the Church at Colosse to “beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ” (Colossians 2:8). Christian parents ill-advisedly integrate cultural practices into their childrearing which plant seeds for unrighteous fruit later on in their lives. “In our attempt to help them adapt to a culture that does not know God, we present objectives to pursue and ways of solving life’s problems that are unbiblical. In effect, we train them to think unbiblically;” [4] all to the potential detriment of the child that has not yet fully surrendered to God in their hearts.

         This leads to the ultimate deterrent to children living out their pious training in later years. The posture of their own heart will be the greatest determining factor to how they live as children and adults. “The Scripture teaches that the heart is the control center for life. A person’s life is a reflection of his heart. What your children say and do is a reflection of what is in their hearts.” [5] Children function after the fashion of their own inner desires. New Testament writer James reveals, “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed” (James 1:14). Despite all efforts of parents to create wholesome environments and sufficient training, the heart is both the seat of sin and the sanctuary of the Savior; but it is up to the individual to decide how they will live their lives. Life is an inside job. Thus, proper training for children is necessary but it is not attached to a guaranteed promise because children can grow old and live out wicked works from tainted hearts that are not congruent with their childhood training.

[1] Tedd Tripp, Shepherding a Child’s Heart, 2nd ed. (Wapwallopen, PA: Shepherd Press, 2005), 28.

[2] Ibid., 10.

[3] Ibid., 43.

[4] Ibid., 45.

[5] Ibid., 3.