Proverbs 17:21

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about a child in folly:

Proverbs 17:21 (NIV1984)

To have a fool for a son brings grief;

there is no joy for the father of a fool.

Proverbs 17:21 (ESV)

He who sires a fool gets himself sorrow,

and the father of a fool has no joy.

There is a heartache that is talked about in this country and in our society that is real and would get few objections:  The worse thing that can happen to a parent is to bury their own children.   There can't be a greater pain in this world.   If there is a close second to this pain, the above proverb might explain it.   When your children don't follow God you have a hole in your heart only God can fill.   There is "no joy" to the father who wants their son or daughter to walk with God and they choose folly instead. Not only is their absence of joy there is the presence of grief.   One is a-w-o-l and the other is on a-c-t-i-v-e duty.   "Foolishness is bound into the heart of a child," Proverbs says.   Only correction can drive it out.  

Proverbs 22:15

Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child;

but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

As you correct your child you are driving out that folly.   But not every fool responds to correction.  In fact, that is one piece of evidence that they are fools: Failure to take correction.   The pain of seeing you child die before your eyes or before their time would be the depth of pain.  But to know that if they die and they are without Christ, is the greater pain.  To see death is to experience pain.  But, to see folly is a Christ-less eternity.