His Comments

I love how scripture can be layered, and Proverbs 22:6 is a passage that can have a deeper meaning the more we dive into all of scripture. Here is my thought process as I dive into a passage like Proverbs 22:6 –

1. The mention of “in the way he should go” leaves me thinking of each child’s personality. Each child learns differently, so we must be mindful of that and teach them in a way that allows them to learn.
2. “Even when he is old, he will not depart from it.” This can bring security to a parent or teacher. When you raise up your child right, they will remain on the correct path!
3. Teach the child to be good, he will grow up to be good.

While all of this can sound good on the surface, is that what Proverbs 22:6 is telling us? The above could lead to a parent or child using the phrase, “follow your heart,” but what does scripture tell us about our heart? Jeremiah 17:9 tells us, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” That gives a whole different meaning to the phrase, “follow your heart.” With that context, we can see Proverbs 22:6 as a warning. Another way of translating “in the way” is “in his way,” and if we allow children, or ourselves, to dictate the proper way, we will come up short every time.

Now, let’s look at Isaiah. Isaiah 55:8-9 tells us, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” When reading Proverbs 22:6 in context of other scripture, I understand it as the following:

1. Caution – a child who is trained up in their own way will not depart from it, meaning “follow your heart” leads to wickedness.
2. With that warning of caution, we can see this passage pointing us to “in His way,” or “in God’s way” as a better way to raise our children. When we rely on our own hearts, our own thoughts, and our own ways, we see from scripture we will fall short.

Instead, rely on God’s Word and God’s way. Read Proverbs 22:6 as a warning not to raise your children up according to the world but raise them up according to God. Also, read the end as a reminder to remain faithful and go to God daily. “He will not depart from it” is in reference to living a life in our own sin, but God tells us to turn from our sin and go to Him daily. This serves as another reminder to not only raise our kids according to God, but we must also live our lives according to God. Do not be a hypocrite, telling kids to live one way while living your life the opposite. We all have free will and it is God who saves, but when it comes to your household and raising children, do so according to Joshua 24:15, “but as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”