SPIRITUALITY AND FAITH
opponent under the basket. If the coach says, “I want you to just dribble, pass and move the ball down court” it won’t be enough. You must narrow the other team’s chances of getting the ball back, limit 3 point throws and cut down on the space for them to pass and shoot. You have to narrow the gap. That too is what you must do for children, narrow the gap the devil can work in by training them how to live for God.
B. Tell Your Child success in life comes from a good name and good character. Model this and protect it! Prov. 22:1 says, “A good name is to be more desired than great wealth”. Parents need to go beyond just wanting their children to be happy, safe, comfortable, good citizens, well-educated, and maybe even religious. A person can obtain all of this and still miss God’s purpose for their life. A person can be religious and still not go to heaven. Our purpose as parents is not just to help them stay out of trouble, but to get them a “good name” with God and walking into His purpose! The word “Train” indicates that you, as a parent, have an active and positive goal. Verse 26 says, “…the way he should go…” This means “a course of life; a road.” This involves helping children to grow up to be godly, not just good! You are training them to love Jesus Christ, to walk in fellow-ship with Him and to follow a definite course. Therefore, a wise parent carefully monitors what video games their child is playing, what music they are listening to, what movies they are watching, and what friends they are hanging around.
PARENTS MUST APPLY CONSISTENT CORRECTION
(Deut. 6:6 says “teach My Words diligently to your children”)
A. Compliment your child on good behavior and correct bad behavior! Share about your development and God’s intervention. There are no perfect parents and there are no perfect children. Share character building stories and traits from the Bible and discuss them. Apply “consistent direction and correction” in raising children who know and love God! We can’t assume that a little bit of exposure to church will do it. It takes great intentional effort for Proverbs lists various ways a child can foolishly react to life.
• They lack good decision making and won’t listen to instruction. Prov. 13:1-2
• They cannot control their mouths. Prov. 13:3, 15:1-2
• They are deceitful and deceptive. Proverbs 14:8-9
• They lack self-control and exhibit anger. Prov. 14:17, 29
• They exhibit an arrogant, know-it-all attitude. Prov. 18:12; 28:26 (Prodigal Son story)
B. Correct your child’s foolish traits and provide them Godly example. If parents condone foolish behavior, excuse it, tolerate it, or simply yell and warn, they will never drive the foolishness out. Parents must replace foolishness with wisdom (see Prov. 29:15). Kids need clear boundaries and direction. God’s design is that parents be the primary source of influence and instruction in a child’s life (the first 5 years are so crucial). Recently I read “a wise parent is someone who is able to put their child in the middle of a