Being A Good Child

by Micky Galloway

Today, many will be celebrating “Father’s Day.” The nation’s first Father’s Day was celebrated on June 19, 1910, in the state of Washington. However, it was not until 1972 (58 years after President Woodrow Wilson made Mother’s Day official), that the day honoring fathers became a nationwide holiday in the United States (https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/fathers-day). While it is timely to honor mothers and fathers, I would like to focus our attention on being a good child, because every day is “Children’s Day.”

The purpose of the book of Proverbs is designed from the beginning to address the instructional needs of the young. “To know wisdom and instruction; To discern the words of understanding; To receive instruction in wise dealing, In righteousness and justice and equity; To give prudence to the simple, To the young man knowledge and discretion: That the wise man may hear, and increase in learning; And that the man of understanding may attain unto sound counsels” (Proverbs 1:1-5).

The Writer Addresses The Role Of Children. Proverbs 1:7-8, “The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge; (But) the foolish despise wisdom and instruction. My son, hear the instruction of thy father, And forsake not the law of thy mother.” Emphasis is given to this in a number of the Proverbs. Proverbs 6:20, “My Son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother.” Proverbs 4:1, “Hear, (my) sons, the instruction of a father, And attend to know understanding.” Proverbs 23:22, “Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, And despise not thy mother when she is old.”

The Lord Intended That Children Be A Great Blessing. “Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them.” Children are described as “arrows in the hands of a mighty man” (Psalms 127:4-5). As arrows must be carefully formed and shaped so that they can be shot straight from the bow, so must a child submit to such forming and shaping by his parents. The Scriptures teach, “Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing unto the Lord” (Colossians 3:20). In Romans 1:30, one of the many sins Paul listed as worthy of death is “disobedience to parents.”

The Child’s Role In The Home Therefore, Is A Role Of Learning. One of the easiest and best methods of learning is by following an example. Some children think their parents were “born old.” This certainly is not true. Why should a child listen to his parents?

• Consider their experience. They have been where you are! Children with godly parents are blessed to have advice from those who traveled the same road, only much farther. Proverbs 13:1, “A wise son heareth his father’s instruction, but a scoffer heareth not rebuke.” Proverbs 15:5, “A fool despiseth his father’s correction; but he that regardeth reproof getteth prudence.” Proverbs 15:10, “There is grievous correction for him that forsaketh the way; and he that hateth reproof shall die.”


• Consider their wisdom. Their own experiences, both good and bad, provide a rich source of wisdom. Their wisdom often includes that of their parents and grandparents (your grandparents and great grandparents), representing several generations. Most people eventually begin to appreciate their parents’ advice. Proverbs 4:1-4 says, “Hear, (my) sons, the instruction of a father, And attend to know understanding: For I give you good doctrine; Forsake ye not my law. For I was a son unto my father, Tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. And he taught me, and said unto me: Let thy heart retain my words; Keep my commandments, and live.” Children with parents who are Christians are blessed with wisdom from many sources. For their wisdom will certainly include the revealed wisdom of God! Only the foolish and immature would despise the advice and wisdom of their godly parents. In fact, Proverbs 15:5 says, “A fool despiseth his father’s correction; But he that regardeth reproof getteth prudence” i.e. “the ability to govern and discipline oneself by the use of reason” (Webster).


• Consider the eternal consequences. Unfortunately, many young people do not learn the wisdom that comes from parents that know and love them. As expressed by King Agur, many children do not honor their parents. Proverbs 30:11, “There is a generation that curse their father, And bless not their mother.” Proverbs draws a picture of those who will not listen to their parents. Proverbs 30:17, “The eye that mocketh at his father, And despiseth to obey his mother, The ravens of the valley shall pick it out, And the young eagles shall eat it.” Proverbs 20:20, “Whoso curseth his father or his mother, His lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.”


• Consider the awfulness of children who will not listen their parents. “Pretty is as pretty does.” Perhaps the ugliness of such rebellion is influenced by the decrees found in the Law of Moses. Deuteronomy 27:16 says, “Cursed be he that setteth light by his father or his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen.” To “setteth light” is from a Hebrew word qalah – meaning, “to disgrace, to dishonor, to be lightly esteemed, to be despised” (The Online Bible Thayer's Greek Lexicon and Brown Driver & Briggs Hebrew Lexicon). “It means to be of little account or value, to be belittled, shamed (Deut 25:3). It describes dishonoring one’s own parents, treating them lightly (Deut 27:16)” (The Complete Word Study Dictionary: Old Testament). It is to have contempt for or lack of reverence. The penalty for cursing parents or being rebellious under the Old Testament law was death! “For every one that curseth his father or his mother shall surely be put to death: he hath cursed his father or his mother; his blood shall be upon him” (Leviticus 20:9). “If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, that will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and, though they chasten him, will not hearken unto them; then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place; and they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard. And all the men of his city shall stone him to death with stones: so shalt thou put away the evil from the midst of thee; and all Israel shall hear, and fear” (Deuteronomy 21:18-21).

Isn’t it clear why children are to honor their parents? “My son, forget not my law; But let thy heart keep my commandments: For length of days, and years of life, And peace, will they add to thee. Let not kindness and truth forsake thee: Bind them about thy neck; Write them upon the tablet of thy heart: So shalt thou find favor and good understanding In the sight of God and man” (Proverbs 3:1-4). Paul sums up the whole matter, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right” (Ephesians 6:1).