Start Young

By David Jeremiah

Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:6

Recommended Reading

Ephesians 6:4

King Solomon did not have access to modern research on child development. But several thousand years ago, he said something about children that modern research has validated. Today, child development experts suggest that the majority of a child's personality is in place at a very young age. Solomon suggested something similar: A child's foundational values will stick with him or her for the rest of the child's life.

Specifically, when talking about raising godly children, Solomon said to begin training them when they are young and the training will stay with them even when they are old. The Book of Proverbs is a collection of wisdom -- wise sayings that reflect godly principles. Proverbs 22:6 doesn't mean there will never be a child raised in a godly home that won't walk away from God and stay away. Rather, it is an instruction and guide for parents: Build into your children at an early age godly principles and those principles will guide them as they grow older.

Proverbs 22:6 says, "Start young when training up your children. Trust that God will bless that training even when they are old."

If you would train your children rightly, train them in the way they should go and not in the way they would.

J. C. Ryle