“Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them.”
The key phrase in this verse is “careful discipline.” In both Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, Solomon shows a serious sense of responsibility for raising children with proper discipline. Discipline done out of anger or selfish motives is not just wrong—it’s dangerous. Most people’s initial understanding of God as Father comes from their earthly understanding of a father. How they are treated, including how they are disciplined, shapes their concept of what a heavenly Father is like. Years in youth ministry taught me that sometimes the greatest evangelistic challenge was helping young people understand that earthly fathers are flawed, and by comparison, our heavenly Father is perfect. What that perfection looks like is often very difficult for those from abusive homes to grasp. However, choosing not to discipline our children because it’s hard is never okay. It’s dangerous and shows a lack of genuine godly love. Scripture tells us that God disciplines those He loves. It is because of this love that He will not ignore things willfully done that draw us away from His divine calling in our lives. It may not feel like love at the time, but when properly administered, it surely is. Today, give and receive discipline in love. #BeTheEdge
“because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” Hebrews 12:6 NIV