“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.”
Ephesians 6:4 NLT
Have you ever noticed how it’s always somebody else’s fault? “Mom, she’s poking me!” But he really was bugging her first. “Honey, I would never get loud with you except you kept hounding me about cleaning the garage.” “Yes, sir, I know I shouldn’t speak to customers that way but he was being unreasonable and blaming me for the problem.”Now, we should all do better controlling our reaction to provocation. We are responsible for how we react. We are also responsible for how we act. Do you provoke others in ways that stir up problems?
Let’s bring this idea home. Do you expect your children to react in a godly way to provocation? Sure, they should but have you taught them how? The lessons they learn best from you are the examples you set. You can tell them again and again not to bully the younger siblings but then your actions teach that running over others is OK. What do you expect them to learn? How do you expect them to act?
Most of us get our ideas of how to discipline and instruct our children from our own parents. That’s a good resource if your parents disciplined and instructed you according to the word of God. But if they did not, then my advice to you is to seek the ways of the Lord in the area of parenting. By reading the Bible regularly you will find guidance. Christian bookstores will have plenty of material to help you. Talk with other Christian parents about the issues you face.
Many families need to break the cycle of provoking their children to anger and begin a pattern of godly discipline and instruction. Parents, this is your calling and responsibility. Do not take it lightly. Pray that God will help you as you discipline and instruct your children.
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