Misquoted Verse - Proverbs 22:6

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

Many people interpret this verse as a guarantee or promise that if you raise a child in a godly way, the child will definitely follow that path in their whole life. But Proverbs, by nature, is a book of wisdom principles, not unconditional promises. These sayings describe what is generally true, not what is guaranteed by God.

So when parents experience heartbreak watching their child stray from their upbringing, they may feel God failed to keep His promise or keep His word. In reality though, this verse was never meant to be a promise but a guideline for wise parenting.

What exactly does this verse mean and how should we understand it?

• "train up" implies intentional guidance, discipline and shaping of a child's life.

• "in the way he should go" should be understood in two ways:

a. in the way of righteousness (God's path)

b. in the way suited to the child's design, understanding the child's gifts/talents

Both these interpretations support the idea that parenting should be purposeful and tailored. When children are raised with wisdom and spiritual formation that considers their God given uniqueness, they are more likely, though not guaranteed, to stay on the path.

The correct way of using this verse is as:

• a tool of wisdom not a binding promise

• a call to intentionality in parenting; investing spiritually, emotionally and practically in a child's development.

• a reminder that while parents plant and water, God is the one who gives the increase (1 Corinthians 3:6-7). Children still have a free will and their choices don't always reflect parental failure.

Grace and Peace.