Parenting by the Book
STUDY 19
Text: Proverbs 16 : 6
4 November 2001
THE CONCEPT OF “THE FEAR OF THE LORD”
Dear Parents,
WE LIVE IN A WICKED WORLD
Nobody will debate that we live in a difficult and wicked world. Evidence of wickedness is all around us. We need but look into the local newspapers and we are made aware of the fact that this world is full of iniquity. Many of us worry how our children will survive in this dark and troubled world.
WE CAN’T ALWAYS BE AROUND TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN
We will of course do our part in bringing up our children. We will watch over the kind of friends they keep. We monitor their school work. We try and spend much time with our children. In short, we are protecting our children from evil influences as much as possible.
However, the sad fact is that we will not always be able to play this protective role. Besides our children will grow up and be away from us. That is normal, but it is not without its dangers. To keep them around us all the time is not realistic or possible. Some time or other they will have to face the world and all its dangers.
THE “FEAR OF THE LORD” WILL KEEP OUR CHILDREN
When we teach our children the fear of the Lord, we are doing more than just pass them some knowledge. We are giving them an important truth that could well keep them from the evil that is prevalent in the world.
In mercy and truth atonement is provided for iniquity,
And by the fear of the LORD, one departs from evil.Proverbs 16:6
When we teach our children about the fear of the Lord, we also teach them how that should lead them away from paths of evil. One cannot speak about having the fear of the Lord in the heart and at the same time love evil.
When one basks in the sunshine of the goodness of the Lord, one will learn to shun evil. Let’s not just prevent our children from doing evil. Let’s teach them how to fear the Lord, and then they will choose to depart from evil.
TEACH OUR CHILDREN THAT THERE IS ATONEMENT FOR INIQUITY
While we desire our children to walk in the way of the Lord, we also recognize the fact that they will from time to time falter and fail. It is important that we teach them how to return to the Lord when they do sin.
The fear of the Lord well taught should not drive a person away from God in dread. Let us be sure that we teach our children that there is mercy and truth in the Lord. He will find it in His heart to make atonement for our sins. In fact He has already made provision for forgiveness in the atoning death of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Prayerfully,
Pastor Charlie