Children, A Gift From God
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· 67 viewsHow to avoid turning the gift of God into a curse by raising children properly
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The Psalmist teaches us that children are a gift from God. But they soon can become a curse (; ; ; ; ) if God does not rule in their lives. I want to examine how to keep that from happening.
Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,
the fruit of the womb a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior
are the children of one’s youth.
Blessed is the man
who fills his quiver with them!
He shall not be put to shame
when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.
The proverbs of Solomon.
A wise son makes a glad father,
but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother.
A foolish son is a grief to his father
and bitterness to her who bore him.
A wise son makes a glad father,
but a foolish man despises his mother.
A foolish son is ruin to his father,
and a wife’s quarreling is a continual dripping of rain.
The one who keeps the law is a son with understanding,
but a companion of gluttons shames his father.
I) They must be taught to obey their parents
I) They must be taught to obey their parents
A) Which fulfills God’s law – ; ; – both from the old covenant – ; – and new
For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’
Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father, and you shall keep my Sabbaths: I am the Lord your God.
Listen to your father who gave you life,
and do not despise your mother when she is old.
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.”
Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.
B) It is also the wisest choice for a good life – ; , , ; ; – as David tried to teach Solomon –
“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.
Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction,
and be attentive, that you may gain insight,
for I give you good precepts;
do not forsake my teaching.
When I was a son with my father,
tender, the only one in the sight of my mother,
he taught me and said to me,
“Let your heart hold fast my words;
keep my commandments, and live.
Hear, my son, and accept my words,
that the years of your life may be many.
I have taught you the way of wisdom;
I have led you in the paths of uprightness.
When you walk, your step will not be hampered,
and if you run, you will not stumble.
My son, be attentive to my words;
incline your ear to my sayings.
Let them not escape from your sight;
keep them within your heart.
For they are life to those who find them,
and healing to all their flesh.
My son, be attentive to my wisdom;
incline your ear to my understanding,
that you may keep discretion,
and your lips may guard knowledge.
My son, keep your father’s commandment,
and forsake not your mother’s teaching.
Bind them on your heart always;
tie them around your neck.
When you walk, they will lead you;
when you lie down, they will watch over you;
and when you awake, they will talk with you.
For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light,
and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life,
When David’s time to die drew near, he commanded Solomon his son, saying, “I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, and show yourself a man, and keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn, that the Lord may establish his word that he spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your sons pay close attention to their way, to walk before me in faithfulness with all their heart and with all their soul, you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’
II) They must respect their elders (adults)
II) They must respect their elders (adults)
A) Again, this is God’s will – ; – for the good of society
“You shall stand up before the gray head and honor the face of an old man, and you shall fear your God: I am the Lord.
Princes are hung up by their hands;
no respect is shown to the elders.
B) Since the elderly are a source of great learning – – respect is much more than giving up a seat on the bus, but a willingness to learn
III) They must make a return to their parents
III) They must make a return to their parents
A) Monetary – – including caregiving
But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God. She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day, but she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives. Command these things as well, so that they may be without reproach. But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
B) Also the same love, time, and care they gave you (money alone has little value)
IV) Parents of younger children
IV) Parents of younger children
A) When to start teaching these principles? When do you start schooling? Learning manners? Speech? Hygiene? Why shouldn’t they also be taught to love God early –
Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
B) Some suggest that parents should not push their children toward the church. I agree we cannot push the church on them, but we must place more significance on teaching them about God than we do on hobbies, hygiene, manners, worldly education, etc.
Concl: Duties of children are often ignored in discussing family issues. They should not be so. They should be taught as youngsters – – that they may grow up to be trustworthy servants of God.
Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”;