Proverbs 22:6 A Parent’s Promise

Solomon shares a special promise that parents have clung to since the day it was spoken. We can ALL trust in it because it is from God, NOT Solomon.

This verse is quoted so often and by so many longing parents that I can’t even begin to fathom its number! I, too, cling to this promise. And so does every wayward child’s mother and/or father. It is the promise that if you invest yourself in teaching your children the truth, it will ALWAYS be with them.

Sitting here, thinking about this promise, I’m struck by its complexity. As MUCH as I want to believe the same thing I was taught about this promise, I have to wonder. What is God REALLY saying? How much can I hold Him to when it comes to the outcome I desire? Is this a promise regarding a relationship with the Lord or one concerning overall conduct? And how perfect does my ‘training’ have to be to be assured of the outcome I’m looking for?

My children are among those who have been raised in church and professed faith while still young. Yet they have also questioned that faith after they left my home to live their own lives. I DEARLY want to cling to the promise of them returning to that relationship at some point in their lives. This was the interpretation I was always given. I am NOT abandoning it!!! But still…

First and foremost, I need to go back to the beginning of this promise. The author of this promise is NOT Solomon alone. He penned it so we can pin our hopes on it, but GOD gave him the wisdom to recognize His truth. I will say with ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY that the Holy Spirit ‘authored’ EVERY WORD we have in our bibles. I DO NOT believe He would allow ANY untrue word to be recorded. So I trust this promise is from the very mouth of God; given to us through Solomon’s pen.

Since we KNOW that God made this promise to all generations, we can be CERTAIN it will come to pass. NO word EVER spoken by God will fail. If even ONE did, then ALL would be suspect. But what if WE have read more, or less, into His promises than He intended?

Could this promise be more about morals rather than specific choices? Is this promise speaking specifically of faith? Or is it speaking of foundational ‘good v bad’ matters?

And what must I do to attain this promise? We have seen MANY times, while going through the books of Chronicles and Kings, where a child raised in the Law walked away. Some completely and others dabbled a bit. I would call Solomon a ‘dabbler’ because He remained true to the Lord for most of his life. He was certainly raised in the Law. I would go so far as to say that he was David’s favorite son. David invested himself in Solomon’s life and future. Yet, when Solomon was much older, he walked away from the way he was raised. He sought other gods. THE biggest indictment God had against His people.

Jehoshaphat had Johram. Uzziah had Jotham. Jotham was raised by the priests, yet he walked away from God as soon as his ‘teacher’ died. And the most glaring change is from Hezekiah to Manasseh. HOW did these children of godly kings NOT receive this promise? In all fairness, Manasseh did come to a true relationship with God while in captivity. He also tried to bring the people, whom he had led astray, back to their God. He failed in this.

Did these kings lose out on this promise because they didn’t ‘train up’ their children themselves? What about Jotham? We KNOW he was trained in the Law, even if it wasn’t by his physical parent’s hand doing the work.

So, what should I do, or have done, that would prevent the same results as these kings? Can I be assured that my children will return to faith in God? Or is God promising something different than my interpretation?

I, and I will bet you too, have known of or heard of MANY children ‘following in their father’s footsteps’. One of my favorite television programs follows a whole family that characterizes this, Blue Bloods. Their family legacy is one of police officers, but more importantly, of service. Another thing they share is their faith. Not all of them are ‘practicing’ but they have a shared foundational belief and behavior of moral character.

The ’footsteps’ I have left for my children to follow in is of a relationship with God, love, tenacity, and dogged determination. No matter what comes, I don’t give up. I will do anything I can to help my children. And I pray for them often; probably not as often as I should. I speak of God in their presence and my grandchildren know my faith; even though they haven’t been raised in it. Other than my relationship with God, most of my children share my character and morals. The MOST important piece is missing.

Is this moral character all that God is promising? Do we TRULY know the mind of God? I’m going to say that’s a resounding NO. But we can judge by His past acts and character. MANY generations in Israel fell away but their children returned to Him. Maybe this too is a generational promise. It could even be a societal promise. If so, I fear for the children of this generation! But they too have a legacy they can draw strength from.

I’m NOT trying to shake ANYONE’S faith; just posing questions. And PRAYING my long-held interpretation is correct. I will keep praying for my children with this promise in mind.

Father God, I PRAY I’m not putting words in Your mouth with my interpretation of this promise. I DEARLY want it to apply to the restoration of a relationship with You for each of my children. I don’t know how they have gone so far afield. PLEASE bring them back!!! If it takes the Rapture and Tribulation to bring them back, so be it. Whatever it takes!