Meshach
October 7th, 2008, 8:19 PM
Matthew 19:13, “Little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray”
__________
I know first hand how challenging parenting can be in raising a family, as my wife and I, raised two boys. To borrow the old Army slogan “It’s the toughest job you’ll ever love!” I know that I love being a parent but it is a tough job. A parent’s job is definitely the most demanding and rewarding job of all times. It starts from the minute you learn you are going to be a parent and will last for the rest of your life taking you on a ride like nothing that you have experienced before. There will be many wonderful and frustrating times as well as emergencies and surprises along the way. Raising a family in today’s hectic world is a challenge. Parents must learn to be financial managers, chefs, housekeepers; maintenance experts, educators and diplomats — and they must balance all those roles with being loving caretakers for their children. Add to that the additional challenges of maintaining relationships and careers and it is a wonder that any parent keeps their sanity. While today’s parents face even more challenges than their parents they also have a vast selection of support services and information available that their parents never dreamed could exist. However, the best source of information concerning parenting is found in God’s Word. As dedicated parents, we spend much of our time supporting, encouraging, instructing, protecting, and challenging our children. Moreover, sometimes all that steering and urging seems ineffective when the child starts to veer off course. That’s when being a parent is “really hard work”. If you find yourself there, some biblical parent-child principles can help you. Some of these principles are:
1 … Parents must teach God’s truth – Deuteronomy 4:9; 32:46. Your home needs to be a place where you serve one another through God’s love – Galatians 5:13. Children do not learn to love and obey God only by what we say. They also learn by watching what we do. We are to teach them constantly about God and His Word as we “sit in our house, when we walk by the way, when we lie down, and when we rise up. Along with that we must set an example by our love and obedience to the Lord.
2 … If they do something that is wrong, let them know it’s their behavior you dislike, not them.
3 … Parents should not exasperate their children – Ephesians 6:4
4 … Parents wise decisions bring blessing to their children – Deuteronomy 30:19-20
5 … Parents who are godly teach their children to obey – Ephesians 6:1; 1 Timothy 3:4
6 … Parents must lovingly discipline children because they are immature and need guidance – Proverbs 29:15, "The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame"
7 … Parents who faithfully train their children can be confident that their efforts are not in vain – Proverbs 22:6, "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it"
8 … Above all, pray for them. They may seem confident on the outside but feel weak on the inside. Matthew 19:13, “Little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray.” Wrap them in prayer, as Jesus did (Matthew 19:13-15), is a powerful alternative. He cares more about our children then we do, so we can release them into His hands by praying for them. He doesn’t promise us that nothing bad will happen to them. But as we pray, He will give us the peace we long for (Philippians 4:6-7). This challenge is for all parents, even those whose children have grown up: Don’t ever stop wrapping your children in prayer!
9 … Lastly, one portion of Scripture that provides great instruction in this area is found in Proverbs 2. Although addressing the son, this passage can also serve, as a guide to what parents should teach their children. According to this passage, children must be taught to treasure God’s commands (Proverbs 2:1), to call out for understanding (v. 3), to grasp what it means to fear the Lord (v. 5), and to practice God’s wisdom in their lives (v. 6).
__________
As parents, we must keep in mind that children are smart and learn by listening and watching us; thus we are setting an example for them. The question then would be … are we setting the right kind of example for them to emulate. They will be comparing our actions with our words to see if what we do and say really match up and to see if you're putting your beliefs into practice. If not, your children will be confused, not knowing what to follow, your actions, or your words. Are you living for Christ in such a way that you want your children to imitate you? The Bible is by far your richest and best resource to help you raise children who will know and love Jesus Christ. Nothing is more essential than “the Holy Scriptures” to equip them for all of life’s challenges. Remember that children may not inherit your talents, but will most certainly absorb your values!
__________
An unknown author put it this way:
A careful man I ought to be; a little fellow follows me.
I do not dare to go astray, for fear he’ll go the selfsame way.
Not once can I escape his eyes; what ever he sees me do, he tries.
Like me he says he’s going to be – that little chap who follows me.
So I must remember as I go, through summer sun and winter snow;
I’m molding for the years to be – that little chap who follows me.
__________
I know first hand how challenging parenting can be in raising a family, as my wife and I, raised two boys. To borrow the old Army slogan “It’s the toughest job you’ll ever love!” I know that I love being a parent but it is a tough job. A parent’s job is definitely the most demanding and rewarding job of all times. It starts from the minute you learn you are going to be a parent and will last for the rest of your life taking you on a ride like nothing that you have experienced before. There will be many wonderful and frustrating times as well as emergencies and surprises along the way. Raising a family in today’s hectic world is a challenge. Parents must learn to be financial managers, chefs, housekeepers; maintenance experts, educators and diplomats — and they must balance all those roles with being loving caretakers for their children. Add to that the additional challenges of maintaining relationships and careers and it is a wonder that any parent keeps their sanity. While today’s parents face even more challenges than their parents they also have a vast selection of support services and information available that their parents never dreamed could exist. However, the best source of information concerning parenting is found in God’s Word. As dedicated parents, we spend much of our time supporting, encouraging, instructing, protecting, and challenging our children. Moreover, sometimes all that steering and urging seems ineffective when the child starts to veer off course. That’s when being a parent is “really hard work”. If you find yourself there, some biblical parent-child principles can help you. Some of these principles are:
1 … Parents must teach God’s truth – Deuteronomy 4:9; 32:46. Your home needs to be a place where you serve one another through God’s love – Galatians 5:13. Children do not learn to love and obey God only by what we say. They also learn by watching what we do. We are to teach them constantly about God and His Word as we “sit in our house, when we walk by the way, when we lie down, and when we rise up. Along with that we must set an example by our love and obedience to the Lord.
2 … If they do something that is wrong, let them know it’s their behavior you dislike, not them.
3 … Parents should not exasperate their children – Ephesians 6:4
4 … Parents wise decisions bring blessing to their children – Deuteronomy 30:19-20
5 … Parents who are godly teach their children to obey – Ephesians 6:1; 1 Timothy 3:4
6 … Parents must lovingly discipline children because they are immature and need guidance – Proverbs 29:15, "The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame"
7 … Parents who faithfully train their children can be confident that their efforts are not in vain – Proverbs 22:6, "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it"
8 … Above all, pray for them. They may seem confident on the outside but feel weak on the inside. Matthew 19:13, “Little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray.” Wrap them in prayer, as Jesus did (Matthew 19:13-15), is a powerful alternative. He cares more about our children then we do, so we can release them into His hands by praying for them. He doesn’t promise us that nothing bad will happen to them. But as we pray, He will give us the peace we long for (Philippians 4:6-7). This challenge is for all parents, even those whose children have grown up: Don’t ever stop wrapping your children in prayer!
9 … Lastly, one portion of Scripture that provides great instruction in this area is found in Proverbs 2. Although addressing the son, this passage can also serve, as a guide to what parents should teach their children. According to this passage, children must be taught to treasure God’s commands (Proverbs 2:1), to call out for understanding (v. 3), to grasp what it means to fear the Lord (v. 5), and to practice God’s wisdom in their lives (v. 6).
__________
As parents, we must keep in mind that children are smart and learn by listening and watching us; thus we are setting an example for them. The question then would be … are we setting the right kind of example for them to emulate. They will be comparing our actions with our words to see if what we do and say really match up and to see if you're putting your beliefs into practice. If not, your children will be confused, not knowing what to follow, your actions, or your words. Are you living for Christ in such a way that you want your children to imitate you? The Bible is by far your richest and best resource to help you raise children who will know and love Jesus Christ. Nothing is more essential than “the Holy Scriptures” to equip them for all of life’s challenges. Remember that children may not inherit your talents, but will most certainly absorb your values!
__________
An unknown author put it this way:
A careful man I ought to be; a little fellow follows me.
I do not dare to go astray, for fear he’ll go the selfsame way.
Not once can I escape his eyes; what ever he sees me do, he tries.
Like me he says he’s going to be – that little chap who follows me.
So I must remember as I go, through summer sun and winter snow;
I’m molding for the years to be – that little chap who follows me.