(Prov 22:6 NIV) Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.
This morning we continue our series entitled “Unlocking the Power of Proverbs – Walking in the Wisdom of God.” Here Solomon gives parents both counsel and encouragement. The New Living Translation of this verse reads: “Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it” and the Message Bible paraphrase of this verse says: “Point your kids in the right direction—when they’re old they won’t be lost.” As parents can find comfort in knowing that the training, directing, and pointing that Solomon tells us to do will pay big dividends for our children. I will highlight three things from this verse:
1. Parent for righteousness: Paul, while addressing his spiritual son Timothy, said the following: “Keep on being faithful to what you were taught and to what you believed. After all, you know who taught you these things. Since childhood, you have known the Holy Scriptures that are able to make you wise enough to have faith in Christ Jesus and be saved” (2 Tim 3:14,15). Paul was attributing a great portion of the ‘great man of faith’ Timothy had become to the Godly parenting he received as a child. Godly seeds were sown into Timothy when he was young and those seeds were still producing harvests while he was a mature believer, a pastor of the Lord’s flock. As you parent, and as you seek to instill different qualities and values in your children, please make sure that what you are pouring into them is Bible-based. This way you can rest in the fact that you are parenting for righteousness.
2. Parent for purpose: We are to train up a child in the way he “should go;” this is not always the way we want them to go. For example, Ricardo Jr. is my firstborn. As he was growing up I wanted him to attend West Point and become a military officer. Then there was a time when I wanted him to attend ORU and become a preacher. While he is a great kid and he wanted to please his Dad, I did not realize that I was putting undue pressure on him to be what I wanted him to be and not what God had placed in his heart. Finally, one day, about five years ago, we had a great Father-Son talk and he expressed to me how much he truly wanted to be a chef. From that day we petitioned the Lord, believed God for favor, and started to prepare him to go down this path. Once he started flowing in his purpose, the favor of God was flowing freely. He received open doors to learn from great chefs, he put in the work (countless hours) in the kitchen and reading culinary arts books, and the Lord favored him to get accepted into the best Culinary School in the U.S. (and quite possibly the world). The point is that we should seek the Lord concerning our children and partner with God to develop His purpose for their lives, not just what we selfishly want them to do.
3. Parent with the confidence of a long-term Return On Investment (ROI): Solomon tells us that the seeds we sow in our children’s infancy and youth stages WILL produce harvests when they grow older. This is a promise we can stand on, even for those parents who are having an episode with wayward children. Stand in faith and believe God that the seeds you sowed in your children WILL produce a divine harvest. They WILL come back, they WILL line up with God’s plan for their lives, they WILL find their purpose, and once they find it, they WILL follow it and finish it before they die!
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for Your Word. Your Word has rejuvenated my spirit today for parenting. I parent for righteousness. I instill Godly qualities, values, and virtues in my children. I pour Your Word down inside of them. I put Your Word before their eyes and in their ears day and night. I parent for purpose. I seek You concerning my children and I seek to partner with You to develop Your purposes for their life and living. Together, You and I, we shall prepare my children for their life’s assignment(s). And Father, I parent with confidence. My labor shall not be in vain. The seeds I sow in my children SHALL produce a harvest – both now and in the years to come. I declare this by faith! In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!
