Train up a child in the way he should go [and in keeping with his individual
gift or bent], and when he is old he will not depart from it.
—Proverbs 22:6, AMP
Training our children in the way they should go seems to be an overwhelming task. Yet I have learned it doesn’t have to be. I strongly believe that we train our children by how we live our lives. When we love God and follow Him daily, our children will benefit. Our lives have the greatest impact on our children. They follow what they see in us—the good and the bad.
We have to ask ourselves, do our children see us practicing what we preach? Are we the same at home as we are in front of those we want to impress? Do our children see us being kind, loving, and merciful to others in church, but act the opposite way at home? I believe this is the main reason many high school graduates fall away from the church. Parents are not being godly examples at home.
As I was once asking God to show me how I could help and bless others, I felt Him tell me to bless my children. Whenever I heard a preacher preach on being a blessing to others, and giving ourselves to serve others, and building others up, I didn’t relate it to my children. God showed me that the home is where it starts. Why would God want me to serve Him in ministry helping others when I was not ministering to my own family? One of the qualifications for ministry is to treat and manage our families well.
He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?)
—1 Timothy 3:4-5
Paul was speaking about the overseer of a church. However, I believe it applies to anyone in Christ. God will not call us to step out in ministry without first teaching us how to treat and manage our families. Some Christians ignore this to step out and serve, but they hurt their families in the process.
When we are in ministry helping others, we feel good about ourselves. It’s humbling, however, when you are called to bless and serve your children. And I don’t mean in the literal sense. No one praises you for being a blessing to your children, because your children most likely won’t realize it until they are grown.
When asked if there was anything missing from childhood that people gave their children, one woman replied, “My parents were awesome! I want to be just like them!” That is what I want every one of my children to say when they are grown.
Many of those surveyed said they needed their parents to model a relationship with Christ. When we consistently live our lives for Christ, our children will likely follow. If they do end up rebellious and choose not to follow Christ, at least we have done what we could to show them the way. They will have that foundation to come back to when they find out the world’s way doesn’t work. They will see by our lives that Jesus is the only way.
If your children are grown and you haven’t allowed God to work in you, you can start right now. You can be a witness to them. They will see the changes God brings about in your life as you follow Jesus with an undivided heart. It is never too late for God to turn things around in your family. He is more than able.
*This message was taken from my book You Can Have a Happy Family.
We have to ask ourselves, do our children see us practicing what we preach? Are we the same at home as we are in front of those we want to impress? Do our children see us being kind, loving, and merciful to others in church, but act the opposite way at home? I believe this is the main reason many high school graduates fall away from the church. Parents are not being godly examples at home.
As I was once asking God to show me how I could help and bless others, I felt Him tell me to bless my children. Whenever I heard a preacher preach on being a blessing to others, and giving ourselves to serve others, and building others up, I didn’t relate it to my children. God showed me that the home is where it starts. Why would God want me to serve Him in ministry helping others when I was not ministering to my own family? One of the qualifications for ministry is to treat and manage our families well.
He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?)
—1 Timothy 3:4-5
Paul was speaking about the overseer of a church. However, I believe it applies to anyone in Christ. God will not call us to step out in ministry without first teaching us how to treat and manage our families. Some Christians ignore this to step out and serve, but they hurt their families in the process.
When we are in ministry helping others, we feel good about ourselves. It’s humbling, however, when you are called to bless and serve your children. And I don’t mean in the literal sense. No one praises you for being a blessing to your children, because your children most likely won’t realize it until they are grown.
When asked if there was anything missing from childhood that people gave their children, one woman replied, “My parents were awesome! I want to be just like them!” That is what I want every one of my children to say when they are grown.
Many of those surveyed said they needed their parents to model a relationship with Christ. When we consistently live our lives for Christ, our children will likely follow. If they do end up rebellious and choose not to follow Christ, at least we have done what we could to show them the way. They will have that foundation to come back to when they find out the world’s way doesn’t work. They will see by our lives that Jesus is the only way.
If your children are grown and you haven’t allowed God to work in you, you can start right now. You can be a witness to them. They will see the changes God brings about in your life as you follow Jesus with an undivided heart. It is never too late for God to turn things around in your family. He is more than able.
*This message was taken from my book You Can Have a Happy Family.
My blog (Sharing Truths), Proverbs and Wisdom, and Follow 4 Bible Study are joining together in the 31 Days of Prayer movement for the month of November. Will you join us this week by praying for children? Click on the tab below to grab a prayer button to add to your website.
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