Proverbs 28:7

 The book of Proverbs gives us a lot of instruction on a lot of different subjects. One subject that can keep us in God’s wisdom is Godly Follower-ship. Who we follow; where we follow; how we follow are all spoken about in Proverbs. Here is one of them about parenting: 

Proverbs 28:7

He who keeps the law is a discerning son, But he who is a companion of gluttons humiliates his father.

How do you judge the character of your children? How do you judge whether you have "raised" them correctly or properly? In this society we might think we have "done a good job as a parent" if they are athletic. We spend a ton of time and treasure on their youth athletic teams. We might think we have done a great job because they won (earned) a scholarship. Or, we put ourselves at the top of the parental food chain because our children get a career that makes them lots of money. In the above proverb, however, we see that a child who is the blessing for his/her parents is one who keeps the law (that provides him/her discernment) and one who keeps himself from hanging with those who have no balance in life. A "companion of gluttons" is a group of people who have lost their balance in life. Character, to Solomon, in the life of a child, is one who keeps God's Word and avoids walking with those who have lost their balance in life, who only want to twist God’s word to their own advantage (2 Peter 2). If you want to know if you have reached a goal it would be best to know what the goal is.  We can certainly raise our children to succeed, based upon grabbing “more,” (The definition of gluttony), as the world defines success.   Or, we can teach our kids to keep the law (the wisdom of God) , and to obey it.  That is how Solomon defines success and successful parenting.