Key Verse: Verse 24 - “Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: ye make the LORD’S people to transgress.”
Key Words: Nay, my sons
To say the least, Eli’s sons’ behavior was inappropriate. But why? Well, we know they were not saved (verse 12). But even unsaved kids with a proper authority over them behave, so why do children misbehave?
All misbehavior has a cause! There is always a reason or reasons why our children misbehave. Understanding and removing the cause of the problem will certainly help to eliminate your child’s misbehavior.
Inappropriate punishment for misbehavior does not solve the problem, but rather tends to aggravate it. So, let us look at some causes of misbehavior and see if we can be of any help to you.
First of all, misbehavior could be due to a physical problem. We had a child in our school ministry who was, to say the least, a “holy terror.” We suggested that the parents get a complete physical examination and have the child’s hearing and eyes checked. They found that the child could not see. He was “half-blind.” Glasses not only corrected his vision but his conduct as well.
Secondly, misbehavior could be caused by an inability to keep up academically. When a child is not able to stay with his peers academically, he tends to become frustrated, and misbehavior is the end result. One common side effect of this misbehavior is that the child tends to blame others in the class or the teacher for his problems. Statements such as, “The person sitting by me won’t leave me alone,” or, “The teacher embarrasses me,” are used as excuses for his poor grades and misbehavior.
Thirdly, misbehavior may be caused by conviction of sin or spiritual battles. For example, one of our daughters was not “behaving herself” which was unusual for her, so we sat down and talked with her. She was battling with surrendering to God’s call upon her life, which resulted in her having a poor attitude and being disobedient.
Fourthly, misbehavior may be a sign of some emotional problem - fear of failure, peers, jealousy of other students, etc.
As parents, it is important that you understand that there is always a reason for misbehavior; and rather than becoming angry with your child or someone else, begin to look for the reasons for this misbehavior.
What to do:
✞ Pray for wisdom.
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