DO YOU WANT WHAT
IS
BEST FOR YOUR CHILDREN?
Do you want what is best for
your children? Of course you do. You love them. You seek their happiness. You
plan and prepare for their future. But, if you really want that which is best
for your children you must raise your children in accordance with those
principles laid down in the Word of God. The wise man wrote, "Train up a child in the way he should
go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it" (Pro. 22:6). The
simple lesson of that text is just this - Good training, as a general rule, has
good effects. The text does not promise salvation as the result of good
training. But it does promise that, in the general course of things, a
well-trained child grows into a responsible adult.
If you would train your
children well, YOU MUST TRAIN THEM IN
THE WAY THEY SHOULD GO. NOT IN THE WAY THEY WOULD GO. Our sons and
daughters are born with a decided bias toward evil. If we let them choose their
way, they are sure to choose wrong (Pro. 22:15; 29:15). If we would be wise, we
must not leave a child to the guidance of his own will. TRAIN YOUR CHILDREN WITH LOVE, PATIENCE AND TENDERNESS. I do not
mean that you should spoil your children. But, I do mean that you should let
them know that you love them. Love is the secret to proper training. Nothing
will compensate for the absence of love and tenderness. Anger and harshness
will frighten a child; but they will not persuade the child that you are right.
If your children see you often out of temper, they will soon cease to respect
you. TRAIN YOUR CHILDREN TO BE
INDUSTRIOUS AND RESPONSIBLE IN LIFE. Life is not all fun and games.
Children need to be taught responsibility the earlier the better. TRAIN YOUR CHILDREN WITH LOVING, BUT FIRM,
DISCIPLINE. Determine to make your child obey you. It may cost you much
trouble and cost him many tears, but it will be best for the child. A loving
parent will see to it that his children are obedient (Pro. 13:24; 19:18; 25:15;
23:13-14; 29:15-17; Heb. 12:5-11). Be firm and earnest in disciplining your
children. Do not punish them rashly, or in anger. Do not use abusive words with
them. Such things only create hostility. Use the paddle. Use it sparingly; but
use it firmly. A loving, but firm use of the rod is essential to the proper
training of children. AGAIN, TRAIN YOUR
CHILDREN WITH A PRIMARY CONCERN FOR THEIR SOULS. If you love your children,
think of their souls. In every step you take regarding them, in every plan you
make for them, and in every decision you make which concerns them, ask yourself
one question How will this affect my child's soul? ONCE MORE, TRAIN YOUR CHILDREN WITH THE FIRM PERSUASION THAT MUCH
DEPENDS ON YOU. You cannot convert your children. You cannot save them. You
cannot train them up to be Christians. And you cannot change their hearts. But
you are the one who molds your child's character. And you do it, for better or
for worse in his earliest years.
When you have done the best
you can, you cannot save your sons and daughters. "Salvation is of the Lord!"
We must teach them well, train them well, and call upon the Lord in their
behalf, seeking the mercy of God for them. We must commit our children into the
hands of God. Having done that, we will rest in submissive faith, trusting the
Lord our God to accomplish his own purpose and grace in Christ Jesus, for the
glory of his own great name.
I offer these thoughts to
you who are believing parents, with the prayer that they may be of help to you,
as you endeavor for the glory of Christ to train up your children in the way
they should go.
Don Fortner, Pastor
Grace Baptist Church of
Danville --Danville, Kentucky 40422-9438