Proverbs 22:6 “Point your kids in the right direction—
when they're old they won't be lost.” >(The Message Paraphrase)

When I was a boy, there were some on my School bus who had a unique gift. Back then, our report cards were written in by the teacher on a piece of paper. Now, if they were careful, they could often make certain changes to their report card. For example, if you had a “D,” they could often manipulate it till it looked like a “B.” But, the one most kids were interested in was when they had an “F” on their card. If they were careful, they could often manipulate that “F” to look like an “A.”

Now, what those kids didn’t realize was is that you can change the report card and pull the wool over your parent’s eyes, but the Teacher still new the original grade. Friends, one day, we are going to be graded on our homes and how we are raising our children.

Now, there are as many philosophies on how to raise children as there are parents in this world, but God gives us directions for parenting in the Bible. And if we will follow his instructions, we are sure to get an A on our heavenly report card.
Proverbs 22:6, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” In the Message paraphrase of the Bible it reads, “Point your kids in the right direction— when they're old they won't be lost.”

Now, what does it mean to “train up” a child, or to “point” a child in the right direction? There is a difference in teaching a child and training a child. Many of us teach a child one thing and watch them do it completely the opposite. Far too often, we think that teaching is all we need to do, our job is done! Not So! Children are self-willed, and self-centered. The Bible says for us to “Train” our children. To train means, “To prepare for a contest. To instruct by exercise, to drill, to form to a proper shape, to discipline for use.”

Now, in what direction should we point our children? How shall we do that?
#1 –Point our children to Faith
Friends, did you know that the word used here for train is only used four other times in the Bible. Two of those times it is spoken of as a man dedicating his house, the other two when Solomon was dedicating the Temple to God. This word has the idea of “Dedicating.” To train up our children, we are to begin by Dedicating our children to God. We are to follow the example of Hannah in 1 Samuel chapter 1 as she dedicates her son Samuel to the Lord.
Now understand this…

a) Start training early.
Why start when the child is young? That is when their Curiosity is very high. What is the one word you parents most often here from your toddler? “WHY?” “WHY?!” “WHY?!!!”

Starting early is important because a child’s Memory Factor is strong. Little children have an amazing ability to memorize. Just think about it. Before a child is out of diapers, they are learning the English language.
Then there is the Humility Factor. Children are still humble, their little hearts are soft and moldable. Jesus said to us adults, “Except you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3).

b) Be Creative.
This word “Train” also has been used to describe the putting something in the mouth to be tasted. In ancient times, midwives would take crushed dates and mix them with honey, or olive oil, put that on their finger and then rub the pallet of a baby to help teach the baby to swallow. Now, you cannot reach in the back of your mouth and touch your pallet without trying to swallow
Parents that is what God is saying we should do with our children spiritually. We are to be creative in training up our children in the faith. We are to create a hunger, a thirst in their little hearts to want to know God and His Word.
Be creative. Find teaching moments in everything. Do like Jesus. He picked up a handful of seed and taught the message “The Sower and the Seed” in Matthew 13:3

c) Begin at Home.
Now, faith in God is to begin in the home, not the church. The church is very important. It has a very important role in the spiritual development of young and old alike, but my friends, the first preachers of the Gospel a child hears and understands should be the mother and father, or the guardians of that child.
The Lord Jesus said, “Suffer not the little children to come unto me for such is the kingdom of Heaven.” Statistics are there dear friend, you give the devil 18 years to harden your child’s heart toward the things of God and the chances of your child coming to Jesus are very low. A child’s faith is to be nurtured beginning in the home and increased through the church.

Deuteronomy 6:6-8, “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.”

>#2 – Point your children to Responsibility
Don’t give them everything. Mold your precious ones to understand that everyone is equal in the sight of God. Train them to have a good work ethic, to be good managers of their finances, how to treat a lady, how to respect men. Train them to be responsible spiritually and with life in general.
How?

#3 – Point with Firmness
Now, I know you think your child is a little angel and it’s everyone else children that are little devils, but may I tell you, that the Bible says, “Foolishness is bound in the heard of a child” (Proverbs 22:15). The word “foolishness” means silliness. Children are children. And God has a proper method for us to discipline our children. Remember, discipline is one part of the whole of training.
Why should we discipline our children?

a) Because you love them.
Proverbs 13: 24, “He who spares his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him promptly.”
Some people won’t discipline their child and they will say, “O’ but I just love him so much I can’t discipline him.” Friend, if that is you, you are telling a lie. You don’t love him like you ought. If you that were true, then you are better than God. Listen to Hebrews 12:6, “For whom the LORD loves He chastens…” Whom the LORD loves…!

Now listen, the word “rod” in Proverbs 13:24, doesn’t mean to beat a child with a stick, it means a twig or switch. It is not intended to harm a child, simply to sting. And God has created a perfect spot for that on the human body too!
The Bible teaches that disciplining our children will keep us from disgrace. Listen to Proverbs 29:15, “The rod and rebuke give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.” Verse 17 says, “Correct your son, and he will give you rest.”

How should you use discipline?
Revelation 3: 19 says, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten.”
a) Discipline out of love…
b) Speak first…
c) Chasten last…

#4 – Fun
Friends, the home should be known as a place of joy, laughter, FUN! Proverbs 17:22, “A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.” Fun is a gift from God!
God wants our homes to be so marked with joy that those who are far from God will look at our homes and recognize the blessings of God. Read this wonderful verse, Psalm 126: 2, “Then our mouth was filled with laughter, And our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.”