These passages contain two Proverbs. The first Proverb says, “He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently.” When I grew up in the 1950s, spanking children was an acceptable form of discipline. When we were disobedient, our parents would spank us. It was an effective motivation to change our behavior and obey our parents. Schools were even allowed to discipline children when they misbehaved. As a result there was order rather than chaos at home and in the schools. Most of these children grew into motivated, disciplined, and responsible adults.
However in the 1980s that all changed. Spanking children was discouraged. Books were written that advised parents to negotiate with their children. That approach was not very effective. It resulted in disobedient and disorderly children. These disobedient and disorderly children turned into disorderly and unmotivated adults.
Society has suffered as a result of this. Removing effective discipline during the children’s foundational years has resulted in unmotivated adults with bad morals who lack direction and purpose. Many have become a burden to society.
The second Proverb says, “The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite, but the stomach of the wicked is in want.” A righteous person believes in God and lives by the Word of God, the Bible. The Bible teaches them to be diligent rather than lazy.
However, a wicked person does not follow the Bible’s guidance. Therefore, a wicked person is not motivated to be diligent and exert effort to get what they need to survive. Living according to the Word of God will result in having plenty to eat. However rejecting the Bible’s guidance will result in being in want of things like food and shelter.
