Day 22 – Train Up and Guard the Poor
Scripture:
Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6
Do not rob the poor, because he is poor, or crush the afflicted at the gate. Proverbs 22:22
Reflection: Parenting and justice two very different words, but in God’s wisdom, they sit side by side in Proverbs 22. Why? Because both are about stewardship. One is the stewardship of hearts; the other is the stewardship of power.
Think about it: Training a child isn’t about controlling them, it’s about shaping them. You’re planting values that will one day bloom when no one is watching. But the same heart that trains a child is the heart God calls to protect the weak. Why? Because if you raise a generation without compassion, you’ll raise leaders who rob the poor instead of defending them.
You may not see the fruit right away. A child may rebel, a generation may seem lost, or injustice may keep roaring. But Proverbs reminds us seeds sown God’s way never rot. They may hide underground for a while, but one day, they push through.
If you don’t train up your children, the world will. If you don’t use your voice for the poor, someone else will use their silence against them. Neutrality is not an option in the kingdom.
Application:
Ask yourself: What am I actively training in the next generation through my words, my example, or my silence? Your home is the first classroom, and your character is the curriculum.
Then, ask: How am I stewarding my power in daily life? Do I protect the overlooked at work, church, or school or do I blend in with the crowd at the gate?
God’s wisdom pushes us beyond ourselves: train up the next, and defend the least. That’s how you build a legacy that heaven applauds.
Prayer: Father, help me live with the long view in mind. Let me train my children, my disciples, and those under my influence in Your ways, even when the fruit takes time. Give me courage to use my voice for the poor, the overlooked, and the vulnerable. I don’t want to waste my influence I want to wield it for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, amen.
What you train today will speak tomorrow. What you defend today will echo in eternity.