Why is there such a breakdown in the moral foundation of this present generation? Where must the blame be laid? Some would lay it to the public school system, others to a liberal judicial system. No, it goes deeper than that. The depth reaches to the core of the natural heart. Man by nature is depraved; therefore his offspring is corrupt. But even natural men have a moral obligation to keep in check their children. Here is where the failure has been for at least the past two or three generations. Someone has said well, “Neither church nor state could exist, but of the materials which the family produces.” We need desperately to understand that the family is the school in which subjection to law is first taught. A failure here is bound to manifest itself in every stage of society, which is exactly what we are experiencing today. I’ve heard Proverbs 22:6 applied to the salvation of our offspring; I don’t think that is a proper application. I think it means that if one brings up a child under the proper discipline of the moral principles of the Holy Scriptures, those principles will be so ingrained in the mind and conscience of a child that “when he is old” (comes to maturity as an adult) “he cannot get away from it.” It does not assure the salvation of the subject, but it does assure that the subject will be an asset to society and not a liability. Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. Thou shall beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell” (Proverbs 23:13-14). A parent correcting his child goes against the grain (a tender parent can scarcely find in his heart to do so). But he finds it necessary, it is his duty, and therefore he dares not withhold correction when there is occasion for it. Spare the rod and spoil the child; he beats him with the rod, that is he gives him a gentle correction. Beat him with the rod and he shall not die. Discipline will not kill him; it will prevent his killing himself by those undisciplined courses, which the rod will be necessary to restrain him from. For the present it is not joyous, but grievous, both to the parent and to the child; but when it is given with wisdom, designed for good, accompanied with prayer, and blessed of God it may prove a happy means of preventing his utter destruction and delivering his soul from hell. Our great care must be about our children’s souls; we must not see them in danger of hell without using all possible means, with the utmost care and concern, to snatch them as brands out of everlasting burning. Let the body smart (hurt) so that the spirit is saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
Older
Top
