Parenting by the Book
STUDY 18
Text: Proverbs 15:33
28 October 2001
THE CONCEPT OF “THE FEAR OF THE LORD”
Dear Parents,
WHAT DO WE DESIRE FOR OUR CHILDREN?
Exams are just around the corner for some. For others, exams have just been completed. Exams appear to form such a major portion of the life of our children. In our culture of success in Singapore, we must from time to time ask what we desire for our children.
Do we merely desire good grades? Do we desire our children to go into the Gifted Education Programme? What do we really desire for our children? It is not impertinent to raise this question. What does God want for our children?
YET ANOTHER CHALLENGING ASPECT OF THE CONCEPT OF THE FEAR OF THE LORD
Let us consider another important statement from the Book of Proverbs on the subject of “the fear of the Lord”. By now, we realize that this concept encompasses many more thoughts than at first realized. Let us consider this new aspect,
The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom,
And before honour is humility.Proverbs 15:33
Why do children study? If you talk to them plainly and honestly, many would reveal that they are motivated by fear. They fear failing, thus they study. They fear the anger or disappointment of their parents, and thus they study. They fear losing out to their friends and so they are driven to study. The kind of fear that many children run on is “negative”.
What if we seek to teach our children how to find the right kind of fear? Why not teach our children how to fear the Lord instead?
This kind of “fear” is most positive. This kind of fear challenges our children to seek knowledge and wisdom. If we teach our children to love the Lord, revere Him, and seek Him in all they do, then He would become very real to them.
The Lord Himself would plant within their hearts a special sense of regard for Himself we call “the fear of the Lord”. This sense of awe and reverence for the Lord would challenge them to live for greater goals than merely passing exams.
TEACH OUR CHILDREN HOW TO VALUE WISDOM
If children value wisdom, then they will find a special motivation to study harder. They will not study just to pass exams. They will study because they have acquired a love for knowledge, for instruction and wisdom. This special blessing comes when we teach them how to fear the Lord.
Let us also endeavour to teach our children humility even as we teach them how to love knowledge and wisdom. Humility well mastered leads to great honour later in life.
Prayerfully,
Pastor Charlie