25.082 | TRAIN UP A CHILD IN THE WAY HE SHOULD GO | Proverbs 22:5,6 | God’s Word for Today

God’s Word For Today

God’s Word for Today

10 Apr, 2025

5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the crooked;

whoever guards his soul will keep far from them.

6 Train up a child in the way he should go;

even when he is old he will not depart from it.

-Prov 22:5,6 ESV

TRAIN UP A CHILD IN THE WAY HE SHOULD GO

The “paths” in the book of Proverbs is a metaphor for the choices a person makes in life (see Prov 1:15–16; Psalm 119:35). Those who follow godly wisdom are on a path to safety and truth (Prov 12:28). Those who reject godly wisdom wander from that path. As a result, they suffer greater danger and will become lost (Prov 4:18–19). Indeed, the way of a sluggard is like a hedge of thorns but the path of the upright is a level highway. (Prov 15:19).

Jesus said, "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few" (Mat 7:13–14). This is paradoxical. The road that seems smooth is rough at the end. However, those who choose to follow the narrow way may find it to be a hard road. Yet, Jesus leads the way and provides mercy and grace to help in time of need (Heb 4:16).

This most quoted proverb offers sound advice for parents. When a child is raised with the right values and the right perspective, those lessons will last a lifetime (Eph 6:4). Literally, this implies that the rightly trained child will not deviate from this path. Of course, Solomon's proverbial counsel is not an iron-clad promise. We know that despite the direction in which godly parents point their child, he or she may choose to pursue the crooked path. Yet, a foundation of godliness gives the child something positive to "fall back on" when they come to their senses. The story of the prodigal son gives us hope that the child may realize his mistakes and resolve to go back to the right path (Luke 15:16–20).

The original wording here implies the idea of "dedicating" a child to God. The implication is that the child is being purposefully directed and immersed towards the Lord and His wisdom (Prov 1:7). Godly parenting is directing the steps of their children toward knowing God. Parents can trust that instructing their children about God and modeling to them a relationship with God will most likely persuade each child to believe the Lord and obey Him. If it does not, then those experiences will help to convict and change a stubborn heart later in life. This kind of child-rearing happened to Timothy. He was taught the Scriptures when he was a young child (2 Tim 3:15).

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