God’s Dream for our Children

The Road of the Wise

Asdov/o3 “a’aku Myr Zavagnyrovn Hamar

Imasdovnin Jampan

Proverbs 1:8-19

Last Sunday I started a series of sermons from the Book of Proverbs.

This Sunday is Mother’s Day. I understand that this is a day when we respect and honor our mothers, but more than that, it is parent’s day, aunt’s, father’s, mother’s, grandparent’s, and single parent’s day. Each person has a “mother” figure in their life; it could be their biological mother, or anyone else who filled the gap created by the parent.

Our reading from Proverbs starts with the direction and the teaching of the father and the mother:

“Listen, my son, to your father's instruction and do not forsake your mother's teaching.” (vs. 8)

To listen, shamaa in Hebrew, is a very important word.

Listen in Hebrew means to obey, to hear with attention or interest, to yield, to be obedient. The instructions that the parents give here are about not associating with bad friends, who can destroy their children’s character.(vs. 9-19)

What is the best way that our children will shamaa, listen, obey us?

It starts with mothers, fathers, it starts with us.

What is our dream towards of our children? What is our goal for our children?

It starts when we have a clear-cut biblical objective.

Ephesians 6:4

“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”

“Parents, do not waste your time in negative ways of raising them, do not provoke them, do not exasperate your children” (NIV translation). We need to learn that we cannot instruct them by force, by unimaginable demands, by constant negative statements.

The Greek word for “bringing them up” means: nourish them up to maturity, nurture them, in all aspects, physical, mental, spiritual, social, with clear goal and focus.

Lately our HomeBuilders group is studying a book called, “Effective parenting in a Defective World” by Rev. Chip Ingram. He mentions an important point that I would like to adopt.

What is your target? What is your focus in raising your children?

Some say, “I want my children be happy. I want my children to be successful more than me.”

Chip says therefore some parents raise their children with fear.

Fear of failure,

fear that they will not go to Harvard,

fear of not equipping enough for the competitive market,

fear of the society,

fear of not being acceptable, fear, fear, fear.

Last Sunday I stressed a very important verse, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom.”

The Word of God brings forth different kinds of fear. Another word for fear is awe, or reverence. This means we look at our Creator with high respect and humility. We ask Him to teach us how to be men and women of God and how to be parents for our children. This means we acknowledge who God is in our lives.

Raising our children with fear of the Lord is better that fear of the world.

Ask yourself “What does the world want from my child and what does God want from my child?”

The world wants our children to be happy. 40 % of McDonald’s income comes from Happy Meal for children. Is it healthy and good? I don’t think so, even the nutritionists are raising this issue.

More sports, more music, more ballet, more competitive schools.

What does God want from our children?

To be holy and not happy. To be like-Christ is the goal.

Do not misunderstand me. When we learn to be holy, with the fear of the Lord, we learn to be content and joyful. The goal of raising our children is that they will be like Jesus, not from the outside, but from their heart, inside.

How we can instruct them, to obey?

Live the life. Practice what you teach.

Paul was a great teacher. He says to his Corinthian friends, “Imitate me”. Learn from me how I approached the pagan world; learn from me how I handled the financial issues in my life and so on. (1 Corn 4:14-16)

The best teaching method is the principal of modeling. Your children are going to be like you.

Albert Bandura is great psychologist. He says the best way of learning is the “behavior modeling that is observed.”

Jesus says: “A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.”(Luke 6:40)

Jesus was the example, the model for being a whole person. We learn from his life and teachings.

Listen to this song: “Cats In The Cradle”

Artist: Harry Chapin

It is written in 1974. The words are like this:

My child arrived just the other day
He came to the world in the usual way
But there were planes to catch and bills to pay
He learned to walk while I was away
And he was talkin' 'fore I knew it, and as he grew
He'd say "I'm gonna be like you dad
You know I'm gonna be like you"

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' home dad?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
You know we'll have a good time then

My son turned ten just the other day
He said, "Thanks for the ball, Dad, come on let's play
Can you teach me to throw", I said "Not today
I got a lot to do", he said, "That's ok"
And he walked away but his smile never dimmed
And said, "I'm gonna be like him, yeah
You know I'm gonna be like him"

(More verses in the middle)

I've long since retired, my son's moved away
I called him up just the other day
I said, "I'd like to see you if you don't mind"
He said, "I'd love to, Dad, if I can find the time
You see my new job's a hassle and kids have the flu
But it's sure nice talking to you, Dad
It's been sure nice talking to you"

And as I hung up the phone it occurred to me
He'd grown up just like me
My boy was just like me

And the cat's in the cradle ……

What a sad song. But reality in our lives.

What is God’s dream for your child?

A good example form biblical literature: Naomi's two daughter in laws

Ruth and Orpah

Never late, start today asking God’s direction in your life. Start by surrendering to God through Jesus. Have the respect the awe towards your Maker. Start today, not tomorrow.

Amen