Proverbs 19:20

"Listen to counsel and and accept discipline, that you may be wise the rest of your days." (Proverbs 19:20 NAS)

Part of us would love to take this verse, put it in front of the faces of your youth, jab our index finger at it and say "See, see, see! Read this!" And it's true that wise, godly counsel and discipline are essential for the intellectual, spiritual (and therefore character) development of our children. What is sown today will be reaped later on down the line. Sadly, it is my observation that too many parents in our society seem to place academic disciplines at a higher standard than spiritual ones. I wish I could say this pertains only to those outside the church, but the fact is there are far too many youth being left alone on Sunday mornings and during the week while Mom and/or Dad are participating in service or bible study. On top of this, there may not even be a family altar or devotional time in the home requiring their attendance. For some, it's a matter of avoiding confrontation. If the child is not interested and will put up a fuss, the thought is that it's better to keep the peace, perhaps praying that Johnny or Suzie will eventually come around. The thing is this peace is really a false peace. It's the same kind of peace we might experience while tip-toeing gingerly past a ferocious pit bull who is snoozing. The truth is we're on edge because we know the so-called peace is very frail and therefore try our best not to upset it. This is not the peace that the Prince of Peace promises to those who love and follow Him.

We do a great disservice to our youth by not making the unpopular choices and insisting on their adherence to things they might not be thrilled about. When we let them decide for themselves, in a sense we're allowing the devil free reign to exude his influence. Think how silly it would sound if your child declared on Monday morning, "Mom, I don't feel like going to school." Without a moment's thought you would say, "You are going to school." There would not be any negotiations. Isn't it funny and tragic that we don't place the same, or even greater degree of importance on their coming to know the Lord Yeshua, getting to develop a relationship with Him and relationships with others within the body of Christ? We've been conditioned by society to believe academics are the very highest pursuit. When we do this, we're setting our youth up for worldly success and moral and spiritual failure.

Let us remember, before we jab that index finger a little too firmly or self-righteously, we need to set the example. We need to demonstrate the disciplined life, the life of one who is in submission to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Not just saying, but doing, not excluding one for the other.