Teach Your Children Well
1 Thessalonians 2:10-12 (Audio Only)
The title comes from the lyrics to an old 1970’s Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young song that I probably sang a thousand times. It’s a terrible song. It seems so right. But really, when you look at the lyrics the song has a real “fatalistic view,” like “That’s just the way things are.”
But Dads, things don’t have to be “just the way they are.” It doesn’t have to be that way, we really can teach our children well. God has given us all we need to have all the influence he has called us to have on those he has called us to influence, primarily our children. He has given us all we need in his word, all the direction we need. He has given us all the power we need in the Holy Spirit. The only thing that God hasn’t provided is the choice.
Here’s what we have to do, we have to get involved. We have to do the hard things, Dads. And most importantly, you’ve got to have the hard conversations. Teaching our children well isn’t easy – it’s hard. But God has given us all that we need to do it, and do it well.
It doesn’t matter if your kids are young or old, or if you have Spiritual kids or are a fatherly influence, you can be the godly influence that God has called you to be.
It was eight years ago on the week of our seventh anniversary, both of my daughters were pregnant with their first babies, and we now have a total of eight grandchildren. I can’t begin to tell you the foundational joy of my life, of being a husband, a father, and a grandfather. I dream far too often of being a full-time grandpa! Whether your children are four or forty, it doesn’t matter. Whether they are biological or spiritual children as in discipling, or those that God has put in your path to influence, even in a leadership standpoint (like youth), every father can have an incredible and godly impact on the children’s lives around them. You are called to influence the children around you for God on his behalf. You can begin that today.
If as I share, you think, “I’m not really doing that.” This issue is not to point out failures, the issue is to point out tomorrow. With the Lord, it’s not about yesterday, it’s about tomorrow. It’s not about the failures and we all have plenty and plenty of regrets, but with the Lord, it’s not about yesterday, it’s about tomorrow. So everything I say can happen tomorrow. You can begin to have the godly influence that God has called you to have on the children around you, tomorrow.
I’d like to paint a picture of a godly father’s calling today, and then each of us can take home and apply – actually apply it – right where we’re at in life today. God has given us the direction in his Word. He has given us the power in his Holy Spirit. The only question is will we choose to be a godly father today?
So, in 1 Thessalonians Chapter 2, Paul is reminding the church of how he treated the “child-like” believers when he was in Thessalonica (with Silvanus and Timothy) and in Paul’s “reminder” to the Thessalonians of how he treated them as a father. In that reminder is a wonderful picture of what we are called both to be and do as godly fathers.
Number one, we are going to look at what has God called our character to be as fathers, what are we to be, what are we to exist as. And then, out of that, what are we to do? What actions has God called us to do? Wouldn’t it just be great if God would just give you three things that he has called you to be? Your character in your children’s life. One, two, three. So, what if God gave you three things to be and three things to do?
As 1 Thessalonians Chapter 2 opens, Paul is remembering his time with the Thessalonians. And first Paul compares his “approach” to these new believers as being gentle and being loving even like a mother toward them. And in verse 8 he says they not only shared the good news of Jesus Christ with them, but they shared their very life with them. And in verse 9 Paul reminds them they worked night and day to make sure they were not a burden on them while he shared the gospel with them.
And finally, in verse 11, Paul says,
1 Thessalonians 2:11 (NLT)
11 And you know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children.
There is our connection.
In that review, we see exactly how we as fathers are called to treat our children.
We are going to start one verse up in verse 10. I am going to use the ESV for these verses because we are going to dissect a few words here.
And here are the two great truths I really want us to see here.
1). In verse 10, Paul reviews his CHARACTER (who he WAS) toward these spiritual children.
2). In verse 12, Paul reviews his ACTIONS (what he DID) for these spiritual children.
There are three “to be’s” and there are three “to do’s.” We’ll start in 1 Thessalonians 2:10.
1 Thessalonians 2:10 (ESV)
10 (This is Paul’s CHARACTER (Who he WAS) You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers.
Holy – Righteous – Blameless. These are huge words of character, and dads, our character (who we ARE) is everything! The definition of the word “character” is: “the moral qualities distinctive to an individual.”
Paul says as a spiritual father his character was:
Holy
Righteous
Blameless
Now right away this sends all dads into complete failure mode. If I have to be holy, righteous, and blameless I might as well give up right now. But hold on a minute. If we will look at these words in the way they apply to us, we will see that God has given us the ability to have this level of character in our lives. There are steps that we can begin to take for our children – TODAY. We can begin to live Holy, Righteous, Blameless lives starting today.
Let’s see how these words apply to us as fathers.
#1) (Paul says) Our conduct was HOLY toward you.
The word used here comes from a Greek word that means, “To be dedicated (set apart) to God.” When the Bible says “Be holy as I am holy,” it’s not really saying be perfectly sinless in the immeasurable holiness of God. It means – be set apart, be dedicated. You and I cannot be holy in the same sense that God is holy. But can you be dedicated to God on behalf of your children? Can you be set apart for God’s use on behalf of your children? Absolutely. All you have to do is choose. And then choose. And then choose. This is not what you “do,” this is who you are. Because there are children watching you, whether physical children or spiritual children and they are following in your steps. So, number one, we must be dedicated (set apart) to God.
#2) (Paul says) Our conduct was RIGHTEOUS toward you.
The word used here means “just and upright.” It means “to do what is right.” Righteous, meaning in a practical sense, this is not our positional righteousness that we get from being in Christ, where we get to show up in the presence of God righteous in Christ. This is our practical righteousness – how we live. To be godly fathers we’ve got to make a commitment to live just and upright. That doesn’t mean that we have to be rigid, over-reacting, legalistic disciplinarians. (In fact, that can backfire pretty easily.) Men you know, to be godly influences of our children, we have to choose to do what is right.
Let me ask you a question. When something goes sideways in your home and your children are wondering all day (while you’re at work) “How is dad going to respond to this?” Do they say to themselves, “I know my dad is going to do what is right and just”?
Dad’s, if you want to teach your children well, do what is right and just, especially in the face of hardship and difficulty. And especially when the chips are down or stacked against you. Do what is right and just because, trust me, they ARE watching and will walk in your steps. And if they are walking in your footsteps that you wish they hadn’t, then repent. Live repentant, broken lives. Be humble and repentant.
So, #1 – We must be DEDICATED (set apart) to God – (HOLY)
So, #2 – Be JUST and UPRIGHT before your kids – (RIGHTEOUS)
Men, it is your character that your children are following. It is who you are.
#3) (Paul says) Our conduct was to be BLAMELESS toward you.
This word was used for a person who would not bring shame to the cause of Christ. In 1 Timothy 3:2, it says an Elder must be “above reproach” and that is the same idea as here. So, Christian Dad, if your life would bring shame to the cause of Christ, to God, and to your family, then repent (stop and turn the other way) and ask for forgiveness. Because listen, by the time your children are seven, maybe eight years old, they can see through you like a clear window. And if your life is bringing shame on the name of Christ, they see it and at times it drives them from following Christ.
So be transformed by truly making Jesus Christ your Lord, and then prayerfully your kids will say; “Yeah there was a time when my daddy didn’t really live like a Christian, but man, has Jesus Christ changed his life.”
So Paul gives us three character traits that we are to be for the benefit of our children.
1). Holy – Dedicated (set apart) to God
2). Righteous – A commitment to do what is right
3). Blameless – Not bringing shame on the cause of Christ
None of us can do this perfectly and God knows that full well. But can your kids say, “My dad’s not perfect but my dad is dedicated to God? He does his best to do what’s right and he’s not an embarrassment to Jesus.”
If your kids can say that about you today then be very grateful to God and keep on doing it. (Remember, it’s not about who you are, it’s about who your character is.) If your kids cannot say that about you today, then you have an opportunity for a great turn-around story. All you have to do is become a full-time disciple of Jesus Christ and he will make you a great and godly father.
So, Paul has listed three things we are called to be (character) and now three things we are called to do (actions.)
1 Thessalonians 2:11-12 – ESV
11 For you know how, like a father with his children,
12 we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.
Here are the three great tasks to put on our to-do list.
1). EXHORT
2). ENCOURAGE
3). CHARGE our children to WALK in a manner worthy of God.
Nothing else you do that is not for Christ will matter. Nothing else you attain, nothing else you accomplish. There’s going to come a day when your body goes back to the dust and the only thing that is going to matter is the legacy that you left for Christ. This is how we do it. We have the character that is described in verse 10 and then we live in this action, especially with our children, exhorting, encouraging, and charging.
#1) (Paul says) A father is to EXHORT his children.
This Greek word is not far from the word used for the Holy Spirit. For the Holy Spirit, the Greek Word is PARAKLETOS. This word for EXHORT is PARAKALEO. It means literally “To call to one’s side, to encourage, to strengthen by consolation.” It also means “to entreat, beseech and admonish.”
This is a big action word. Once we become who we are, then the first thing the Word tells us is we have got to call alongside our children, to encourage them, to strengthen them in consolation. It means to alleviate their grief, to console them. No, it’s not your wife’s job, it’s your job. Encourage them, strengthen them, entreat them, beseech them, admonish them. The key is to call them alongside.
#2) (Paul says) A father ENCOURAGES his children.
Exhort and encourage are actually similar words. They both include the idea of comfort and consolation and direction. Again, they are not your wife’s job. You thought it was a dad’s job to be hard and tough on the kids, didn’t you? Maybe we have watched too many movies and not read enough of the Bible. Love on your kids. Console them, love them. Listen, it’s a mother’s nature to love the children and console them. When a father does that – it’s off the chart to the children!
Both of these words – EXHORT and ENCOURAGE – have in them the idea of comfort and consolation (alleviating grief). Dad, are you speaking to your children in a friendly and reassuring way? I promise you, comfort, consolation, and reassurance from a dad goes a long, long way.
So Paul says we EXHORT, we ENCOURAGE. And then,
#3) (Paul says) A father CHARGES his children.
This word means “To declare, beseech, exhort solemnly.” It is a word used to call on a witness to speak the truth, as in “I solemnly charge you sir to speak the truth to your children.”
This is the difficult conversation. Listen, men, we avoid difficult conversations. Stop it. Repent. If there is something hard to do you had better be first in line to do it. You’ve got to just step up and say, “Wow, this is going to be so hard.”
You know those conversations, those solemn ones? My kids still tell me I have a solemn conversation voice and when I slip into it, the air gets kind of thick and everyone gets kind of nervous. And they can tell I am going into this type of talk.
And what is it that we are to solemnly declare to our kids? Exactly what this verse says. We are to solemnly declare to them the truth about walking in a manner worthy of God. We are to exhort, encourage and charge our children to walk in a manner worthy of God.
But is that possible if we are not walking in a manner worthy of God? We must first be and then we can teach. It is character first and then teaching. In fact – far and away – our character is our loudest lesson to our children.
And again, if we are not walking in a manner worthy of God (ourselves) then let’s repent to God and to our children, and let’s show them how Jesus can truly transform a life.
So - First we must BE:
1) Dedicated to God
2) Committed to doing what's Right
3) Not bringing shame on the cause of Christ
THEN we can TEACH – We Can
1) Exhort
2) Encourage
3) Charge - Our children . . .
to walk in a manner worthy of God - - - AMEN?
Now I’d like to give you some practical direction on how you can begin to teach your children well.
First, you dad, have got to have a real, daily relationship with Jesus Christ.
1) Praying at all times
2) Reading his Word
3) and actually following what he says.
How? You have to have a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ than you have today. You have to have a personal, meaningful, interactive relationship with Jesus Christ. It is your relationship with Christ that transforms your character that comes out in your leading. How much of your life is Christ living in you, and how much of your life is you living contrary to Christ? (Women, take this too.) And if it takes you your entire life to show your children that you have that relationship, then it will be life well-lived.
Then after we are developing a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, we have got to learn to use the unending storehouse of wisdom that is in God’s Word. You have got to use it. It doesn’t do any good sitting on your coffee table. It is just ink and paper. But if you open it and read it, it is the Living Word of God. Where do you start? Of course, it depends on your children’s age, but a good suggestion is always Proverbs.
Let’s turn over to Proverbs and see how incredibly practical Proverbs is to “Teach Your Children Well.”
Proverbs 1:1–4 (NLT)
1 These are the proverbs of Solomon, David’s son, king of Israel.
2 Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline, to help them understand the insights of the wise.
3 Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just, and fair.
4 These proverbs will give insight to the simple, knowledge and discernment to the young.
That sounds like teaching your children well, doesn’t it? And Proverbs is jam-packed with God’s wisdom for youth. In fact, I just found a great book that compiles the Book of Proverbs into topics. It’s just the scripture of Proverbs but put together in topics. It’s called “Wisdom For Today’s Issues” – By Stephen Voorwinde
There is so much wisdom in the book of Proverbs that our children desperately need to hear. Read it to them. One of the things I wish I would’ve done more for my children is just read the Book of Proverbs to them. In fact, I wish I would have read more of the Bible to them.
Dad’s, read the Bible to your kids and when they start heading into their teenage years, read Proverbs to them. But you can’t just read it to them.
You have to first start living it.
1) Be dedicated to God
2) Be committed to doing what’s right
3) And not bring shame on the cause of Christ
Then you can start teaching it
1) Exhort
2) Encourage
3) Charge your kids to walk in a manner worthy of God.
But Dads, things don’t have to be “just the way they are.” It doesn’t have to be that way, we really can teach our children well. God has given us all we need to have all the influence he has called us to have on those he has called us to influence, primarily our children. He has given us all we need in his word, all the direction we need. He has given us all the power we need in the Holy Spirit. The only thing that God hasn’t provided is the choice.
Here’s what we have to do, we have to get involved. We have to do the hard things, Dads. And most importantly, you’ve got to have the hard conversations. Teaching our children well isn’t easy – it’s hard. But God has given us all that we need to do it, and do it well.
It doesn’t matter if your kids are young or old, or if you have Spiritual kids or are a fatherly influence, you can be the godly influence that God has called you to be.
It was eight years ago on the week of our seventh anniversary, both of my daughters were pregnant with their first babies, and we now have a total of eight grandchildren. I can’t begin to tell you the foundational joy of my life, of being a husband, a father, and a grandfather. I dream far too often of being a full-time grandpa! Whether your children are four or forty, it doesn’t matter. Whether they are biological or spiritual children as in discipling, or those that God has put in your path to influence, even in a leadership standpoint (like youth), every father can have an incredible and godly impact on the children’s lives around them. You are called to influence the children around you for God on his behalf. You can begin that today.
If as I share, you think, “I’m not really doing that.” This issue is not to point out failures, the issue is to point out tomorrow. With the Lord, it’s not about yesterday, it’s about tomorrow. It’s not about the failures and we all have plenty and plenty of regrets, but with the Lord, it’s not about yesterday, it’s about tomorrow. So everything I say can happen tomorrow. You can begin to have the godly influence that God has called you to have on the children around you, tomorrow.
I’d like to paint a picture of a godly father’s calling today, and then each of us can take home and apply – actually apply it – right where we’re at in life today. God has given us the direction in his Word. He has given us the power in his Holy Spirit. The only question is will we choose to be a godly father today?
So, in 1 Thessalonians Chapter 2, Paul is reminding the church of how he treated the “child-like” believers when he was in Thessalonica (with Silvanus and Timothy) and in Paul’s “reminder” to the Thessalonians of how he treated them as a father. In that reminder is a wonderful picture of what we are called both to be and do as godly fathers.
Number one, we are going to look at what has God called our character to be as fathers, what are we to be, what are we to exist as. And then, out of that, what are we to do? What actions has God called us to do? Wouldn’t it just be great if God would just give you three things that he has called you to be? Your character in your children’s life. One, two, three. So, what if God gave you three things to be and three things to do?
As 1 Thessalonians Chapter 2 opens, Paul is remembering his time with the Thessalonians. And first Paul compares his “approach” to these new believers as being gentle and being loving even like a mother toward them. And in verse 8 he says they not only shared the good news of Jesus Christ with them, but they shared their very life with them. And in verse 9 Paul reminds them they worked night and day to make sure they were not a burden on them while he shared the gospel with them.
And finally, in verse 11, Paul says,
1 Thessalonians 2:11 (NLT)
11 And you know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children.
There is our connection.
In that review, we see exactly how we as fathers are called to treat our children.
We are going to start one verse up in verse 10. I am going to use the ESV for these verses because we are going to dissect a few words here.
And here are the two great truths I really want us to see here.
1). In verse 10, Paul reviews his CHARACTER (who he WAS) toward these spiritual children.
2). In verse 12, Paul reviews his ACTIONS (what he DID) for these spiritual children.
There are three “to be’s” and there are three “to do’s.” We’ll start in 1 Thessalonians 2:10.
1 Thessalonians 2:10 (ESV)
10 (This is Paul’s CHARACTER (Who he WAS) You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers.
Holy – Righteous – Blameless. These are huge words of character, and dads, our character (who we ARE) is everything! The definition of the word “character” is: “the moral qualities distinctive to an individual.”
Paul says as a spiritual father his character was:
Holy
Righteous
Blameless
Now right away this sends all dads into complete failure mode. If I have to be holy, righteous, and blameless I might as well give up right now. But hold on a minute. If we will look at these words in the way they apply to us, we will see that God has given us the ability to have this level of character in our lives. There are steps that we can begin to take for our children – TODAY. We can begin to live Holy, Righteous, Blameless lives starting today.
Let’s see how these words apply to us as fathers.
#1) (Paul says) Our conduct was HOLY toward you.
The word used here comes from a Greek word that means, “To be dedicated (set apart) to God.” When the Bible says “Be holy as I am holy,” it’s not really saying be perfectly sinless in the immeasurable holiness of God. It means – be set apart, be dedicated. You and I cannot be holy in the same sense that God is holy. But can you be dedicated to God on behalf of your children? Can you be set apart for God’s use on behalf of your children? Absolutely. All you have to do is choose. And then choose. And then choose. This is not what you “do,” this is who you are. Because there are children watching you, whether physical children or spiritual children and they are following in your steps. So, number one, we must be dedicated (set apart) to God.
#2) (Paul says) Our conduct was RIGHTEOUS toward you.
The word used here means “just and upright.” It means “to do what is right.” Righteous, meaning in a practical sense, this is not our positional righteousness that we get from being in Christ, where we get to show up in the presence of God righteous in Christ. This is our practical righteousness – how we live. To be godly fathers we’ve got to make a commitment to live just and upright. That doesn’t mean that we have to be rigid, over-reacting, legalistic disciplinarians. (In fact, that can backfire pretty easily.) Men you know, to be godly influences of our children, we have to choose to do what is right.
Let me ask you a question. When something goes sideways in your home and your children are wondering all day (while you’re at work) “How is dad going to respond to this?” Do they say to themselves, “I know my dad is going to do what is right and just”?
Dad’s, if you want to teach your children well, do what is right and just, especially in the face of hardship and difficulty. And especially when the chips are down or stacked against you. Do what is right and just because, trust me, they ARE watching and will walk in your steps. And if they are walking in your footsteps that you wish they hadn’t, then repent. Live repentant, broken lives. Be humble and repentant.
So, #1 – We must be DEDICATED (set apart) to God – (HOLY)
So, #2 – Be JUST and UPRIGHT before your kids – (RIGHTEOUS)
Men, it is your character that your children are following. It is who you are.
#3) (Paul says) Our conduct was to be BLAMELESS toward you.
This word was used for a person who would not bring shame to the cause of Christ. In 1 Timothy 3:2, it says an Elder must be “above reproach” and that is the same idea as here. So, Christian Dad, if your life would bring shame to the cause of Christ, to God, and to your family, then repent (stop and turn the other way) and ask for forgiveness. Because listen, by the time your children are seven, maybe eight years old, they can see through you like a clear window. And if your life is bringing shame on the name of Christ, they see it and at times it drives them from following Christ.
So be transformed by truly making Jesus Christ your Lord, and then prayerfully your kids will say; “Yeah there was a time when my daddy didn’t really live like a Christian, but man, has Jesus Christ changed his life.”
So Paul gives us three character traits that we are to be for the benefit of our children.
1). Holy – Dedicated (set apart) to God
2). Righteous – A commitment to do what is right
3). Blameless – Not bringing shame on the cause of Christ
None of us can do this perfectly and God knows that full well. But can your kids say, “My dad’s not perfect but my dad is dedicated to God? He does his best to do what’s right and he’s not an embarrassment to Jesus.”
If your kids can say that about you today then be very grateful to God and keep on doing it. (Remember, it’s not about who you are, it’s about who your character is.) If your kids cannot say that about you today, then you have an opportunity for a great turn-around story. All you have to do is become a full-time disciple of Jesus Christ and he will make you a great and godly father.
So, Paul has listed three things we are called to be (character) and now three things we are called to do (actions.)
1 Thessalonians 2:11-12 – ESV
11 For you know how, like a father with his children,
12 we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.
Here are the three great tasks to put on our to-do list.
1). EXHORT
2). ENCOURAGE
3). CHARGE our children to WALK in a manner worthy of God.
Nothing else you do that is not for Christ will matter. Nothing else you attain, nothing else you accomplish. There’s going to come a day when your body goes back to the dust and the only thing that is going to matter is the legacy that you left for Christ. This is how we do it. We have the character that is described in verse 10 and then we live in this action, especially with our children, exhorting, encouraging, and charging.
#1) (Paul says) A father is to EXHORT his children.
This Greek word is not far from the word used for the Holy Spirit. For the Holy Spirit, the Greek Word is PARAKLETOS. This word for EXHORT is PARAKALEO. It means literally “To call to one’s side, to encourage, to strengthen by consolation.” It also means “to entreat, beseech and admonish.”
This is a big action word. Once we become who we are, then the first thing the Word tells us is we have got to call alongside our children, to encourage them, to strengthen them in consolation. It means to alleviate their grief, to console them. No, it’s not your wife’s job, it’s your job. Encourage them, strengthen them, entreat them, beseech them, admonish them. The key is to call them alongside.
#2) (Paul says) A father ENCOURAGES his children.
Exhort and encourage are actually similar words. They both include the idea of comfort and consolation and direction. Again, they are not your wife’s job. You thought it was a dad’s job to be hard and tough on the kids, didn’t you? Maybe we have watched too many movies and not read enough of the Bible. Love on your kids. Console them, love them. Listen, it’s a mother’s nature to love the children and console them. When a father does that – it’s off the chart to the children!
Both of these words – EXHORT and ENCOURAGE – have in them the idea of comfort and consolation (alleviating grief). Dad, are you speaking to your children in a friendly and reassuring way? I promise you, comfort, consolation, and reassurance from a dad goes a long, long way.
So Paul says we EXHORT, we ENCOURAGE. And then,
#3) (Paul says) A father CHARGES his children.
This word means “To declare, beseech, exhort solemnly.” It is a word used to call on a witness to speak the truth, as in “I solemnly charge you sir to speak the truth to your children.”
This is the difficult conversation. Listen, men, we avoid difficult conversations. Stop it. Repent. If there is something hard to do you had better be first in line to do it. You’ve got to just step up and say, “Wow, this is going to be so hard.”
You know those conversations, those solemn ones? My kids still tell me I have a solemn conversation voice and when I slip into it, the air gets kind of thick and everyone gets kind of nervous. And they can tell I am going into this type of talk.
And what is it that we are to solemnly declare to our kids? Exactly what this verse says. We are to solemnly declare to them the truth about walking in a manner worthy of God. We are to exhort, encourage and charge our children to walk in a manner worthy of God.
But is that possible if we are not walking in a manner worthy of God? We must first be and then we can teach. It is character first and then teaching. In fact – far and away – our character is our loudest lesson to our children.
And again, if we are not walking in a manner worthy of God (ourselves) then let’s repent to God and to our children, and let’s show them how Jesus can truly transform a life.
So - First we must BE:
1) Dedicated to God
2) Committed to doing what's Right
3) Not bringing shame on the cause of Christ
THEN we can TEACH – We Can
1) Exhort
2) Encourage
3) Charge - Our children . . .
to walk in a manner worthy of God - - - AMEN?
Now I’d like to give you some practical direction on how you can begin to teach your children well.
First, you dad, have got to have a real, daily relationship with Jesus Christ.
1) Praying at all times
2) Reading his Word
3) and actually following what he says.
How? You have to have a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ than you have today. You have to have a personal, meaningful, interactive relationship with Jesus Christ. It is your relationship with Christ that transforms your character that comes out in your leading. How much of your life is Christ living in you, and how much of your life is you living contrary to Christ? (Women, take this too.) And if it takes you your entire life to show your children that you have that relationship, then it will be life well-lived.
Then after we are developing a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, we have got to learn to use the unending storehouse of wisdom that is in God’s Word. You have got to use it. It doesn’t do any good sitting on your coffee table. It is just ink and paper. But if you open it and read it, it is the Living Word of God. Where do you start? Of course, it depends on your children’s age, but a good suggestion is always Proverbs.
Let’s turn over to Proverbs and see how incredibly practical Proverbs is to “Teach Your Children Well.”
Proverbs 1:1–4 (NLT)
1 These are the proverbs of Solomon, David’s son, king of Israel.
2 Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline, to help them understand the insights of the wise.
3 Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just, and fair.
4 These proverbs will give insight to the simple, knowledge and discernment to the young.
That sounds like teaching your children well, doesn’t it? And Proverbs is jam-packed with God’s wisdom for youth. In fact, I just found a great book that compiles the Book of Proverbs into topics. It’s just the scripture of Proverbs but put together in topics. It’s called “Wisdom For Today’s Issues” – By Stephen Voorwinde
There is so much wisdom in the book of Proverbs that our children desperately need to hear. Read it to them. One of the things I wish I would’ve done more for my children is just read the Book of Proverbs to them. In fact, I wish I would have read more of the Bible to them.
Dad’s, read the Bible to your kids and when they start heading into their teenage years, read Proverbs to them. But you can’t just read it to them.
You have to first start living it.
1) Be dedicated to God
2) Be committed to doing what’s right
3) And not bring shame on the cause of Christ
Then you can start teaching it
1) Exhort
2) Encourage
3) Charge your kids to walk in a manner worthy of God.