Elize About Faith

Parenting is beautiful, messy, exhausting, and expensive. It matters more than almost anything else we’ll ever do and if we’re honest, it can also be scary.

Most parents carry the same quiet questions: Am I doing this right? What actually matters? What will my kids need most from me when they’re grown?

The Book of Proverbs offers a helpful way of thinking about those questions. It doesn’t read like a rulebook. It sounds more like advice passed down from parents who have lived a little longer and learned a few things the hard way. Over and over, it says: Pay attention. This is what tends to work.

One of the clearest ideas in Proverbs is that wisdom starts with taking God seriously. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge” (Prov. 1:7). Parenting isn’t mainly about controlling behavior or getting everything right. It’s about helping kids know who God is, that they are loved, and that grace and forgiveness are real. When that foundation is there, a lot of other things fall into place over time.

Proverbs also keeps pointing back to God’s words as a source of guidance. “For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding” (Prov. 2:6). Not as a weapon or a set of slogans, but as something steady to come back to when life feels confusing. When kids see their parents turning to Scripture for perspective, they learn that it matters even when no one is forcing it.

Correction shows up in Proverbs too, but not in a harsh way. “My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves him whom he loves” (Prov. 3:11–12). Being corrected doesn’t mean being unloved it means someone is invested. When guidance is given calmly and consistently, kids learn that mistakes aren’t the end of the world and that growth is possible.

Proverbs spends time talking about relationships because they shape everything. “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm” (Prov. 13:20). The people our kids become close to will influence the choices they make and the direction their lives take. Helping them value character, loyalty, and wisdom in friendships and later in a spouse can save them a lot of pain.

Honesty is another theme that keeps coming up. “Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy” (Prov. 28:13). Hiding mistakes usually makes things worse. Telling the truth, even when it’s uncomfortable, is often the fastest way forward. Homes where honesty is met with grace tend to raise kids who can take responsibility without being crushed by shame.

Proverbs also has a lot to say about work. “A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich” (Prov. 10:4). It values effort, responsibility, and follow-through. Teaching kids to work hard isn’t just about preparing them for a job—it helps them build confidence and learn the satisfaction of doing something well.

And running through all of it is a concern for people who are struggling. “Whoever is generous to the poor honors him” (Prov. 14:31). When kids see compassion practiced in ordinary ways, they learn that faith shows up in how we treat others.

None of this is a formula. Parenting will always be imperfect and humbling. But Proverbs offers a steady reminder of what usually leads toward wisdom, health, and a good life.

Parenting is not ultimately about teaching right behaviours, it is about facilitating a right relationship. Your first job as a parent is to help your child relate to the God of the covenant through faith in Jesus Christ.

Discipline lovingly points us in the direction of peace and harmony, therefore discipline should be considered a lifelong friend. Proverbs says: “Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid” (Proverbs 12:1 ESV)

And on hard days, sometimes a reminder like that is enough.