CONT:
Grief of Child Neglect Continues:
11. Allowing him address and talk to you and Neighbors anyhow he chooses.
12. Always commending the child for his looks and not his character.
13. Being critical, snobbish, domineering and hard on everybody around you, including the child. This may send the wrong signal. And if care is not taken, the child may soon imbibe that attitude. Be an example of godliness to him.
14. Conceding every time he throws a tantrum or becomes angry. If you do this, you give the child room to rule you and get what he wants by his temper.
15. Believing his lies and never bothering to find out the truth on your own.
16. Inability to enforce household rules. When this is the case be sure that when he grows up he will break the laws of the society without fear of consequences.
17. Withholding the rod of correction even when he errs.
These are ways parents leave their children to themselves but things never go well for such parents and the children as well. Usually, parents who leave their children to themselves lose those children. The experiences of Eli, a priest, Samuel, a prophet and David, a king exemplify the unpleasant consequences of leaving children to themselves.
Eli, the priest, failed to discipline or rebuke his children for their misdemeanour. The consequences were terrible-they were killed in one day.
Samuel, the prophet, failed to instruct his children and they grew to live in corruption.
“And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel. Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beer–sheba. And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.”
1 Samuel 8:1-3 KJV
David strived to please his children in all things. If you think no parent will ever leave his children to themselves the way I explained, understand that David did this for his child Adonijah.
“Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. And his father had not displeased him at any time in saying, Why hast thou done so? and he also was a very goodly man; and his mother bare him after Absalom.”
1 Kings 1:5-6 KJV
The consequences of David’s neglect were grief, sorrow and calamity. If such could happen to David, a man after God’s heart, you should take heed. It can happen to anyone who is careless in properly training his children.
GAIN IN CHILD TRAINING:
If there is grief for neglecting our children, there must also be gains for nurturing and caring for them as God’s word commands. Scriptures unmistakably point out the blessings which accrue to parents who train their children in the nurture and admonition of the LORD.
The first gain of child-training is that parents will have peace of mind and joy over their children. “The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him. Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice.”
Proverbs 23:24-25 KJV
Secondly, well-groomed children will not smear the good name of their parents. It is certainly the desire of every family to have and maintain a good name because “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.”
Proverbs 22:1 KJV
The third gain parents have when their children are properly brought up is that the children will respect them. Love, respect and unity will permeate the Home. The example of the Proverbs 31 woman is a clear indication of this. “Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.”
Proverbs 31:28 KJV
Over and above the respect the children and society has for the caring parents is the reward and Blessing from God. God did ot mince words when Ge conferred Blessing on parents who are diligent in training their children.
“Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes. And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates: That your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers to give them, as the days of Heaven upon the earth.”
Deuteronomy 11:18-21 KJV
Another gain of child training is that a solid foundation is laid for the next generation. In His dealing with the children of Israel, the LORD spells out why He wants children to be taught in the law of God.
“For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments:”
Psalms 78:5-7 KJV
The children also have something to gain when they respond to proper training from their parents. The Bible makes it clear that children nurtured in the fear and admonition of the LORD will live long.
There is a counsel to every child in Proverbs 4:10
“Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.”
Proverbs 4:10 KJV
And Ephesians 6:1-3 gives the charge,
“Children, obey your parents in the LORD: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.”
Ephesians 6:1-3 KJV
Finally, there is eternal inheritance for a child who is well-trained. We see a classic example in the person of Timothy. 2 Timothy 3:15 “And that from a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto Salvation through faith which is in Christ JESUS.”
2 Timothy 3:15 KJV.
Mrs Angelinah Olubunmi Peters
My LORD JESUS Is Alive In me
