"Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it."
Proverbs 22:6 NIV
The verse, above, is often taken as a guarantee that a child raised in a Christian home and taught biblical principals will remain in the faith forever. Surely, teaching our children these things are important to their spiritual formation; however, some parents find themselves at a paradox when a child grows up and does turn away.
While pondering this verse today, the thought struck me that this verse is more of a command than a promise. Instilling Christian values and beliefs in our children is a priority for us parents. Dilligently teaching and demonstrating the parcels of that priority will not be without benefit for the child and reward for the parent.
Teachers will tell you that children learn through many avenues. Sight, touch, hearing, the sense of smell and taste, all lend to the learning experience. The more the senses are applied to learning, the more intense the memory of the lesson(s).
Of course, God knows this, hence the written command in Deuteronomy 6:4-9,
"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates." NIV
If our efforts to train our children are only verbal, containing words that only tell our children what is right, then we are missing opportunities for a greater impact on their young lives.
What would happen if, as husbands, wives and parents, we demonstrated Christ-like behavior through service to others? What if living the Christian life was saturated into our children daily? In doing so, the Gospel becomes far more that words on a page - it truly becomes alive.
We all teach. The question is, will we teach well?
There are plenty of opportunities to teach in word and deed. Your home church, it's ministries, para-church organizations, and various other ministries are great places to get in some basic training.
There was an old saying that stated that,
"The Family that prays together, stays together." Let's take that a bit further. The husband and wife that pray together, teach together, serve together and include their children in the process, will, I believe, stay together.
Living, loving, praying, learning and serving together!
For Marriages and Families,
Dave
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