Teaching Children
Be careful not just in WHAT you teach your children
but also in HOW you teach them
~ by Geneece Arnold, 2000
When we discuss character training, certainly we mean that we desire to instill the
character of God within our children. Therefore, we must first indentify
WHAT exactly
we want them to display. Probably one of the most commonly used sections of Scripture
we would refer to for character training is
Galatians 5:22-23 "But the fruit of the
Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, meekness, faith,
against such there is no law." We could also look to verses such as
Colossians 3:12-13
"Put on, therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, tender mercies, kindness,
humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving
one another ...";
1 Peter 1:16 "Because it is written, be ye holy; for I am holy";
and
Ephesians 6:1 "Children, obey your parents in the Lord; for this
is right.".
I fear, however, that while many parents are quick to quote Ephesians 6:1
they often forget to read a few verses further. Ephesians 6:4 is equally important.
It says HOW to teach our children
"And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath,
but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."
To nurture is to nourish,
to educate, to train up; and admonition is gentle reproof, counsel or advice, instruction,
direction. Remember that we reap what we sow, and that children will learn what they live
with. If we treat them with love, gentleness, goodness, and joy; if we are humble,
longsuffering, merciful, and compassionate - then we will see these character qualities
emerging in their lives. If we are harsh, unmerciful, quick to anger, and critical we
will reap these instead. Also, we want to be sure that our words match our actions.
To get a more in-depth picture of how to instruct our children, let us look for a moment
at how God parents us. The Psalms are a beautiful picture of how our Lord continually
nurtures us. I found compassion to be mentioned five times in the Psalms, tender mercies
are mentioned ten times, and lovingkindness is mentioned twenty-one times. Take a moment
and read the following verses.
Psalm 103:1-17
Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.
The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.
He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.
The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.
He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.
For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.
As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.
But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him,
and his righteousness unto children's children;
This is just one of many passages that describe God’s goodness to His people. Although
He will chasten us (defined as correction or affliction for the purpose of reclaiming
from evil) if we disobey, his anger and lack of mercy are reserved for those who hate Him.
He will not distance Himself from us, although we often distance ourselves from Him. Be
cautious then, to not distance yourself from your children, but to nurture them. Draw them
close to you, physically and emotionally, as you strive to instill within them the character
of God. You will be blessed, as will those around you, by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit
in their lives.
