Bring Up Your Children

The apostle Paul wrote the Ephesians concerning children — that fathers should not provoke them “to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4).  What does that mean?  Many different ideas have been offered as to how this passage should be interpreted, but consider the words found in Deuteronomy 6 as a guide.  Moses wrote,

Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thine soul, and with all thy might.  And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou riseth up. And they shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.  And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thine house, and upon thine gates (Deuteronomy 6:4-8).

Notice that Moses instructs the children of Israel to keep the words of God ever before themselves and their children.  They should discuss the teaching of God when walking in the way, that is when traveling.  What is discussed when you are traveling in the car? Or when you go for a walk in the park, or the back yard, or anywhere else?  These times provide opportunities to discuss what the Bible teaches and how it applies to daily life.

When sitting in the house is another time Moses states as a time to discuss our Lord’s teachings. What happens when you are sitting in your house?  Is it like most other American homes where the television comes on and family communication ceases?  What do you talk about around the dinner table?  In many homes it is the latest sporting event, the upcoming sporting event, what is happening in the politics, etc. What about the role the word of God should play in daily life?  What does the Bible teach as the proper reaction to some recent event?

When you lie down and rise up.  Do you begin and end each day with a discussion about the God-given opportunities and blessings present each day?  Do you discuss with your children the importance of looking for the time or times each day when they can do something for God?  A kind word or deed, a mention of Jesus and His love to someone, etc.?  Have you ever sat down with your child and discussed the day and how the Bible applies to situations they faced that day?  Talked with them about how they could have reacted, or praised them for how they did react the way God wants them to?

Notice there is one other important ingredient to this process, diligence.  Diligence is defined as “constant, earnest effort.”  This is something we must work at and make it a part of daily life.  The one element that cannot be omitted is time.  To follow the principles laid down in this passage you must commit your time.  The ball game may need to wait. Your favorite television program may start without you, the newspaper may not get read as fast, but it is all worth it for children who know God’s word, and how it applies to life’s daily situations.

—Denny