Proverbs 29:15The rod and reproof give
wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.
Galatians 4:1-2I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything, but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father.
When
children are allowed to (1) habitually practice any sinful behavior, or (2)
participate in non-sinful activities before demonstrating the appropriate
levels of responsibility and maturity (i.e. having the freedom to dispose of
great sums of money without knowing how to live by a biblically balanced budget),
or (3) live an undisciplined life, being allowed to do almost anything their
heart desires with instant gratification, other problems develop. Children must
be taught how to repent of sin, how to be responsible, and how to live a
self-disciplined life. Parents will suffer along with their children if they
neglect these disciplinary responsibilities.
Children
can soon come to know the truth that God equates discipline with love:
Hebrews 12:6-9
For the Lord disciplines the
one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives. It is for discipline that
you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his
father does not discipline? If you are
left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are
illegitimate children and not sons. Besides
this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them.
Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?
Children
who grow up in homes with too much freedom and not enough discipline may
quickly conclude that they are not truly loved by their parents.
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