6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
This is the Christian parents’ God-given responsibility towards every one of their children. In Psalm 127, we are reminded that “Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth” (vv. 3-4). As with arrows, children ought to be accurately aimed and directed to get to their targets. God expects parents to guide their children to achieve spiritual goals in their lives.
The Hebrew word for “train” (ḥānaḵ) means to dedicate. It is used of dedicating a house (Deuteronomy 20:5), and the temple (1 Kings 8:63; 2 Chronicles 7:5). Only in Proverbs 22:6 is the verb translated as “train”. It means setting aside and limiting a thing for God’s glory and service. Child-training involves delimiting a child’s activities and conduct away from sin and guiding him towards godliness.
Training involves purposeful, consistent and diligent actions. It requires careful observation and analysis of a child’s life, and thorough implementation of divine truths in his life. It would require the parents to administer appropriate and timely rebuke, disciplinary actions, correction, instruction, encouragement, commendation, nurture, etc. Proverbs 13:24 says, “he that loveth him (the child) chasteneth him betimes.” Proverbs 29:15 further warns, “The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.”
Hence, there is a great necessity that parents remain dedicated to God to carry out their duty of training their children according to His will. First of all, parents ought to know the Word of God so that they may be able to teach their children the path that God has mapped out for His people. Secondly, the parents must be earnest in prayer for God’s grace, wisdom and strength for nurturing their children in the right path. They must pray on their own and also with the children. They must also walk in the way of the LORD in order to lead the children on the right path. If the parents’ attitude in training the child is “Don’t do as I do; do as I say”, the child will be without a godly pattern to follow. In such a family environment, the only model the child can emulate is a hypocritical life. So by your life, show your child how he should live all the days of his life for God’s glory.