We owned and raised Belgian draft horses for a few years when the boys were smaller. These “gentle giants” are some of the most massive horses in the world. When Garrett and Gordon were little bitty rascals, they could lead, drive, and show them with the greatest ease. Obviously, this was not the case because the boys were stronger than our 2000 pound horses. Day after day of practice and training had been invested in each of our mares. When a new colt was born, almost immediately, the training process went into effect. The boys and I spent every day out in the pasture working with those colts. Otherwise, when they were older (and much stronger), there would have been no way we could have controlled them.
The Lord paints the same picture through the wise man of the Proverbs. The verse under consideration (Prov. 22:6) is often used to shame parents who already feel guilty (we will discuss this later). However, it is a verse that shows what the commitment of a parent must be. As fathers, we too often take a “hands-off” approach to parenting. We bounce in and give some advice, then get busy with our careers and hobbies. Later, we will pop back into the father’s role to levy some punishment. Just as it took training those colts every day, it takes fathers who are committed to fatherhood if we are going to influence our children toward the right way. Notice
1. WHAT WE ARE TO DO: train up a child. The word used here means “to train up, dedicate, make experienced, submissive, etc. (as one does a horse by a rope in its mouth).” With a horse, this process begins shortly after birth and continues daily until it is matured. The same must be true with our children. We must be committed to teaching them, guiding them, disciplining them, and discipling them. We must do so consistently and continuously.
2. WITH WHAT WE ARE TO DO IT: in the way he should go. Get them used to living the Godly life. The old saying is, “You can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make him drink.” Well, this verse says it isn’t our job to make them drink. It is our job to make them thirsty! We do so by being committed to setting the right habits and patterns in their life: Bible study, prayer, attending services, honesty, service, humility, and so forth. Get them comfortable living a Godly life!
3. THE RESULT OF WHAT WE DO: even when he is old he will not depart from it. If we get them used to practicing righteousness, when they are old they will practice righteousness. Now, that is not to say that some horses won’t act up or be wild at times – that happens. It happens with our children too. After all, they are “free moral agents” just as much as you are. Nevertheless, all things being equal, when you raise a child in a way that is committed to the process of parenting, a life of righteousness, and a desire to honor the Lord, the vast majority of children will grow up to serve Him.
What if I was committed to parenting my boys as I am to perfecting the crafts of my career? What if I was as committed to teaching righteousness to my boys as I am to my favorite sports team? What if I was as committed to training the three G’s to love and serve Jesus as I am to duck hunting, my golf game, or whatever hobby you enjoy? The book of Proverbs says if we were that committed to fatherhood, our children would be raised to walk after Him. May we be as committed to fatherhood as our Father in Heaven is to us!
Corey Sawyers