Parenting by the Book
STUDY 27
Text: Proverbs 1 : 10-18
30 December 2001
Dear Parents,
TAKE TIME TO READ THE LORD’S WORD FOR YOURSELVES
Bringing up children well is a great challenge! Parents need much encouragement and instruction too. Where is the greatest source of wisdom that parents may draw upon? The answer is “The Scriptures”.
Let us make it a point to read the Word of God diligently. Let us make it a point to ponder over the Scriptures faithfully. We would be greatly encouraged, instructed and inspired indeed.
TEACH CHILDREN FROM OUR UNDERSTANDING OF GOD’S WORD
As we take time to read and ponder over God’s Word, for example, today’s portion of God’s Word, we would learn a number of lessons for ourselves. After we have read the Lord’s Word for our own personal benefit, then we would be that much more prepared to teach our children.
1. This passage teaches us that we must warn our children about the dangers of having bad company.
2. Children must be taught that there is such a thing as falling into bad company.
3. They must also be warned that bad companions could lead to disastrous results!
TEACHING OUR CHILDREN ABOUT THE HARD FACTS OF LIFE
One of the most challenging things to do is to teach our children about the hard facts of life. Instructions given to our children should always be in the context of life itself.
When children are brought up only to do well in English, Chinese, Mathematics, they are not prepared to face life! The work of education is the focus of schools. However, the work of preparing children to face life is a responsibility that parents must take upon themselves. A child can do well in school, and yet fail in life. Parents need to take on the challenge of bringing up their children to understand that life is often quite different from studying and doing well in school.
TEACHING OUR CHILDREN HOW TO DISCERN
This portion of Scriptures teaches us that we must train our children how they must discern and distinguish good friends from bad. Only when we teach our children discernment can they cope in life.
We can’t always be there with our children in the many bewildering contexts of their life. They will be tempted by bad “friends” one day. Unless they are taught how to discern, and how to have the moral strength to say “No” to bad companions, they would always be in danger of falling by the wayside. In our life and in our experience, we probably know of children who have fallen though they come from “good families”. Let us not take for granted that our children will not go the same way.
Prayerfully,
Pastor Charlie