Proverbs 13:24-25 “The one who spares his rod hates his child, but the one who loves his child is diligent in disciplining him. The righteous has enough food to satisfy his appetite, but the belly of the wicked will be empty.”

The righteous will be taken care of either because of their good morals and habits, or because God is the one taking care of them. The wicked come up empty!

Without getting into a big discussion about corporal punishment, the issue in verse 24 is discipline, which is made clear in the second half of the verse. If we aren’t willing to discipline our children, we don’t love them, because we aren’t helping them prepare for life. When we discipline our children we show them the difference between right and wrong, and the fact that there are consequences for actions. Hebrews even uses the issue of discipline to show that God is our Father and that He loves us!

Hebrews 12:5-11 “And have you forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as sons? ‘My son, do not scorn the Lord’s discipline or give up when he corrects you. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves and chastises every son he accepts.’ Endure your suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline? But if you do not experience discipline, something all sons have shared in, then you are illegitimate and are not sons. Besides, we have experienced discipline from our earthly fathers and we respected them; shall we not submit ourselves all the more to the Father of spirits and receive life? For they disciplined us for a little while as seemed good to them, but he does so for our benefit, that we may share his holiness. Now all discipline seems painful at the time, not joyful. But later it produces the fruit of peace and righteousness for those trained by it.”