Lesson 385 - Senior

Memory Verse

"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it" (Proverbs 22:6).

Cross References

I Parental Influence

1. Parents influence a child, [PRO:22:6]; [EPH:6:4]; [2TM:3:15].

2. Reproof to a child gives wisdom, [PRO:29:15]; [PRO:10:1]; [PRO:17:25].

3. Paul expresses his love for Timothy, his son in the Gospel, [2TM:1:1-3].

4. Timothy's parents had faith, [2TM:1:4-5].

5. The Lord revealed to Abraham the destruction of Sodom because of his faithfulness as a parent, [GEN:18:16-19]; [JHN:15:15].

6. Joshua admonished Israel to serve the Lord, and made his own decision to do so, [JOS:24:14-15]; [RUT:1:16].

Notes

An old adage, "Just as the twig is bent the tree's inclined," is quite true. The Bible says: "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." The influence of parents on a child begins as soon as he is born. If a parent is true and never deceives a child in any way, that child will grow up to have implicit confidence in the parent.

The mind of a child is very tender and easily influenced toward God and righteousness when a parent begins to instil those truths from birth. There is no heritage so valuable to a child as a godly, Christian home. It implants in the child a love and reverence for God's Word.

Parental Influence

We have an example of parental influence in the life of Timothy. Paul speaks of Timothy's unfeigned faith, which dwelt first in his grandmother Lois and then his mother Eunice. The ground work for Christian character was sown in his heart by his mother and grandmother.

When the Gospel of Jesus Christ was preached in Lystra, there was a ready response in Timothy's heart to the truth. He was converted to Christianity and became one of Paul's faithful ministers. Paul tenderly speaks of him as his own son in the Gospel. Two Epistles written by Paul to Timothy are incorporated in the Bible and give us valuable instructions in righteousness. We have in Timothy a grand example of parental influence.

Abraham's Home Influence

In speaking of Abraham the Lord says, "For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment" [GEN:18:19]). Because Abraham commanded his household, the Lord felt he could reveal to him the secret of what he was about to do. It was a great tribute paid to Abraham in the way he was rearing his children.

We are told in the New Testament that anyone desiring the office of an elder or bishop must be one who rules his own house well, "having his children in subjection with all gravity" [1TM:3:1-4]).

Job

Job was a man who, the Lord said, was perfect and upright, and who feared God and hated evil. He continually offered sacrifices and burnt offerings for his children, lest in their feasting their hearts would be turned from righteousness into the paths of worldliness and sin. He was faithful to his children but he did not worship or make idols out of them. When they were swept away from him in a few moments of time, he didn't blame God or question why that should befall him. He bowed his head and worshiped and said, "The LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD."

Delinquent Children

Many years ago an agnostic from across the waters brought to this fair land of ours a theory that a child should not be corrected. Let him grow up independent and be his natural self without any restraint, and he will be able to think and act in a natural way. Then we will have a super rave of men. Our educators were already modernistic in their views and the schools readily adopted the theory. The parents accepted it and the children hailed it with joy. We are now in the reaping time. What is the harvest? A crop of delinquent children, so great, that the government, the law courts and our police force are not able to cope with. What are the parents reaping? They are heartaches, sorrow, grief and despair, almost beyond endurance. What is the world reaping? Lawlessness, strife, enmity, hatred, distrust and fear.

Not only is our own country infested with it, but it is world-wide. Think of the kind of parents these lawless youths have made and you have a picture of much parenthood today. Even among religious groups who profess to obey the Word of God, children are allowed to have their own way, and a common expression is, "Parents, obey your children." The Bible teaches, "Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord" [COL:3:20]).

The Lord looked down through the annals of time and saw the conditions that would prevail in these the closing days of time and he had it written in His Word: "In the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy" [2TM:3:1-2]).

Correction

There are times when a child needs correction, and parents need much wisdom to know how and when to administer that correction. Paul says, "Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged" [COL:3:21]). Then in [HEB:12:9], we read: "Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence." A parent should never get angry and in hate punish a child. It is punishments that are administered hastily and without discretion that provoke a child to discouragement. When it is explained to a child that he has done wrong and must be punished for the wrong or disobedience, it is then the child understands properly his punishment. He will in after years, if not at that time, give reverence to his parents. Many times the parent grieves as he punishes his child. "No chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness." Parents' influence on children determines to a great extent whether they will make Heaven their home or be eternally lost. What a responsibility! Yet how many homes today lack a family altar! Where do you see the children taught the Word of God, morning, noon, and night?

The Law Concerning Children

When the Law was given to Moses, the Lord knew how important it was for parents to instruct their children about God and he gave these instructions: "And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy 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 risest up. And thou 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 thy house, and on thy gates" [DEU:6:5-9]). Joshua knew well these instructions, and in his parting message to Israel he exclaimed, "As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

Love and Affection

The parent should be the source of wisdom, support and guidance for their children. Children should be shown the pleasure of parental love and affection. They need reproof but they also need encouragement. "A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother."

Remember the old adage, "The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world." "Fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord" [EPH:6:4]).

Questions

1. What is your opinion of godly influence on a child?

2. What is the name of Timothy's grandmother, and of his mother?

3. What was their special qualification of character?

4. Why did the Lord put such confidence in Abraham?

5. According to the Law, when were parents to talk to their children about God?

6. What conditions prevail today among the children, godly or ungodly?

7. Repeat Joshua's parting words to Israel about serving the Lord.