Introduction. From the moment of conception and culminating in the first time we held our newborn in our hands, our natural affection continued to grow. This love and affection are so great it almost hurt because of the strength of our desire that we do our very best to help them succeed. We knew that our most important duty would be to help them identify and avoid the dangers that could destroy them while making the very best choices as they reach each crossroad in their lives. We knew how deeply we would regret any failure to do the very best we could.
We care about everything. We know they have physical, emotional, mental and spiritual needs and we want to guide them in each. When we read that “Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men,” (Lk. 2:52), we know that our children and later our grandchildren must do the same and we want to help them do the very best they can.
As they learn to walk and talk, we are acutely aware of the choices they must make and the dangers they face. In their innocence they do not realize the perils lurking around them. Each day we identify new risks and dangers to them as they manifest themselves. When working in the yard we show them how to identify spiders, snakes and the three leaf clusters of poison oak/ivy. We teach them the dangers of energy, especially things that are hot, flammable, electrical, and such. Before their first outing we teach them about looking both ways before they cross the street. We warn them about the dangers of strangers, alcohol, drugs, and evil companionship.
The thread binding these together are their terrible consequences. One bad decision can lead to a lifetime of heartache or even to a premature death. We teach them about the value of hard work, study, diligence and self-reliance. We guide them in food choices, teaching them the difference between short term gratification and long-term good health.
Yet towering above all of these is the warning of God’s son, ‘be not afraid of them that kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.’ (Mt. 10:28)
We care about everything. We know they have physical, emotional, mental and spiritual needs and we want to guide them in each. When we read that “Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men,” (Lk. 2:52), we know that our children and later our grandchildren must do the same and we want to help them do the very best they can.
As they learn to walk and talk, we are acutely aware of the choices they must make and the dangers they face. In their innocence they do not realize the perils lurking around them. Each day we identify new risks and dangers to them as they manifest themselves. When working in the yard we show them how to identify spiders, snakes and the three leaf clusters of poison oak/ivy. We teach them the dangers of energy, especially things that are hot, flammable, electrical, and such. Before their first outing we teach them about looking both ways before they cross the street. We warn them about the dangers of strangers, alcohol, drugs, and evil companionship.
The thread binding these together are their terrible consequences. One bad decision can lead to a lifetime of heartache or even to a premature death. We teach them about the value of hard work, study, diligence and self-reliance. We guide them in food choices, teaching them the difference between short term gratification and long-term good health.
Yet towering above all of these is the warning of God’s son, ‘be not afraid of them that kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.’ (Mt. 10:28)
The thought of one of our children ‘weeping and gnashing their teeth’ at the judgment bar of God (Mt. 8:12) is enough to get any wise and godly parent training their children about the spiritual consequences of life. They are far more important than any physical consequence in this life, including death. Because we are also commanded to “nurture them in the chastening and admonition of the Lord,” (Eph. 6:4), this becomes one of our greatest priorities.
This means we are to do exactly the same thing with all the spiritual warnings in Scripture we have already done with the physical things described above. It is just as important to teach children the risks and dangers of sin and error as it is to look both ways before we cross the street. Just as we teach our children how to swim to avoid the dangers of falling into the water, we must teach them to pray to avoid the dangers of temptation. The terrible dangers of snakes and wild animals pale when we show them the dangers of the great serpent, Satan, and the spiritual wolves in sheep’s clothing (Matt. 7:15).
God has given a wonderful conditional promise to His people that is reflected in the title of this article: “Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Pr. 22:6). How should parents who love their children respond to this promise? By praying for the wisdom to fulfill all the conditions of the promise and to teach God’s word diligently to them.
Each day offers new opportunities to ‘nurture’ and ‘train.’ We talk about them all the while that we are in the home. We not only give them warnings and guidance, but we are also giving them the history of the Bible. We are God’s people and the history of our people is recorded in Scripture. Abraham is the father of us all and the successes and failures of all who are lived before us are ready to be taught to them. “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope,” (Rom. 15:4). Since we want our children to partake in this same hope, we must diligently teach what God has left for our learning.
The “genuine faith” that was in Timothy “dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice.” Since “faith comes by hearing” and “from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus”, Lois and Eunice did exactly the same thing for Timothy we strive to do with our own children. (Rom. 10:17; 2Tim. 1:5; 3:15).
The exciting stories of Noah, Abraham, David, Jeremiah and Jesus should be told while we are sitting in our home, walking in the way (driving in the car), when we lay down in the evening and when we arise in the morning. This also includes the disastrous stories of Adam and Eve at the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, the children of Israel falling in the wilderness, and Solomon’s great wisdom not being enough to keep him from falling because of his wives.
We must also be preparing our children for the terrible onslaught of error and temptation we know will surely come upon them. We must speak to them of the creation and the reasons why logic and truth more strongly favor a creation than an explosion and random chance. We must show them the narrow way that leads to life and explain why so many have entered the wide gate of destruction. We must teach them about the world and its wickedness and about the wonderful spiritual attributes to be gained by fully trusting God and His word.
Conclusion. Like Jesus, each child, including our own, must advance in wisdom and stature, in favor with God and men. With our guidance and help as directed by the Spirit of God, we can train them up in the way they should go, always praying that they will never depart from it.
This means we are to do exactly the same thing with all the spiritual warnings in Scripture we have already done with the physical things described above. It is just as important to teach children the risks and dangers of sin and error as it is to look both ways before we cross the street. Just as we teach our children how to swim to avoid the dangers of falling into the water, we must teach them to pray to avoid the dangers of temptation. The terrible dangers of snakes and wild animals pale when we show them the dangers of the great serpent, Satan, and the spiritual wolves in sheep’s clothing (Matt. 7:15).
God has given a wonderful conditional promise to His people that is reflected in the title of this article: “Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Pr. 22:6). How should parents who love their children respond to this promise? By praying for the wisdom to fulfill all the conditions of the promise and to teach God’s word diligently to them.
- "And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. (Deut. 6:6-9)
Each day offers new opportunities to ‘nurture’ and ‘train.’ We talk about them all the while that we are in the home. We not only give them warnings and guidance, but we are also giving them the history of the Bible. We are God’s people and the history of our people is recorded in Scripture. Abraham is the father of us all and the successes and failures of all who are lived before us are ready to be taught to them. “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope,” (Rom. 15:4). Since we want our children to partake in this same hope, we must diligently teach what God has left for our learning.
The “genuine faith” that was in Timothy “dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice.” Since “faith comes by hearing” and “from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus”, Lois and Eunice did exactly the same thing for Timothy we strive to do with our own children. (Rom. 10:17; 2Tim. 1:5; 3:15).
The exciting stories of Noah, Abraham, David, Jeremiah and Jesus should be told while we are sitting in our home, walking in the way (driving in the car), when we lay down in the evening and when we arise in the morning. This also includes the disastrous stories of Adam and Eve at the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, the children of Israel falling in the wilderness, and Solomon’s great wisdom not being enough to keep him from falling because of his wives.
We must also be preparing our children for the terrible onslaught of error and temptation we know will surely come upon them. We must speak to them of the creation and the reasons why logic and truth more strongly favor a creation than an explosion and random chance. We must show them the narrow way that leads to life and explain why so many have entered the wide gate of destruction. We must teach them about the world and its wickedness and about the wonderful spiritual attributes to be gained by fully trusting God and His word.
Conclusion. Like Jesus, each child, including our own, must advance in wisdom and stature, in favor with God and men. With our guidance and help as directed by the Spirit of God, we can train them up in the way they should go, always praying that they will never depart from it.