REWARDS AND PUNISHMENTS.
By Ruth C. Sweet
FEW realize the importance of the relation existing between the proper use of rewards and punishments and good government. Few sense the fact that wisdom and caution are necessary in dispensing each. Let us consider the Lord's way of looking at these important factors in child training. In Rev. 22:12 we find the words, "And, behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be." And what determines what our work shall be? Is it not our motive? Can an evil tree bring forth good fruit? —No; and a good tree can not bring forth evil fruit. God knows what our works will be; for "man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart." Then, to follow the divine pattern, we must praise, reprove, correct, or reward, according to motive, not consequences. To illustrate: Two little boys, brothers aged three and five, were playing together. The baby persisted in striking those around him with a wire which he held in his hand. The other took the wire away, and struck him with it to teach him not to strike others. Do we ever do the same thing? Later the baby returned the blow with the same wire, and it chanced to hit the eye of the older child. Which should have been punished, the babe, because evil resulted from his action? or both because motives were wrong? By all means both of the children should have received correction, rather than one be petted and the other blamed. Yet how often we see this mistake made. O, consider the Lord's way; study motive, not result. If your little one throws a dish on the floor and it does not break, why do you let it pass unnoticed? If the act is repeated, the dish broken, why punish? You are looking at the result. And here I would ask, What motive in your own heart causes you to punish the child? Is it not more often your own vexation than a careful and prayerful consideration of the child's welfare? Do you ever stop to think that children understand this,—that if you punish with any but an unselfish motive (that of the future good of the child) the punishment is worse than wasted? We have the plain statement that "more devils are put into a child by beating than are taken out." Why? Because your motive is not a good one. You are not considering the character building of the child, but venting your own feelings in striking. Where punishment is necessary, let it be along the line of offense; if privileges are abused, let them be refused. Then let this be done at once; do not delay the punishment until the effect will be lost and justice questioned. I knew of a teacher who kept a boy in at recess a week after he had whispered, without telling him why he was being punished. He never forgot the injustice, and the good of the punishment was lost. Where the same boy would have responded to gentleness and immediate action, the heart was hardened, and a feeling of rebellion entered. Then by delay we are apt to lose sight of the importance of the offense, and do ourselves and the child an injury by too slight a punishment. Do not exact promises of future obedience from a child under threats of prolonged punishment. Repentance to the extent of giving up the sin is required. Do not lower the standard. After a child has once repented do not keep the temptation from reaching him again. Should it come up it will prove the genuineness of the repentance. After a confession is made treat him as tho nothing had occurred; restore him to favor. Do not use shame or praise excessively as a means of government. The result would be either pride or humility to excess. Never allow your face to show your vexation, especially at consequences. God is a God of love and not of fear, therefore be like Him. Hearts are as often softened by correction properly given, as by rewards. Let us, for the good of the lives entrusted to us for a season, try these things, and praise, correct, reprove, or reward according to motive.—Ruth C. Sweet.