Encouraging Our Kids
Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11
As parents we look at the world and see all we know our children need to learn and understand and how much we hope they never come to understand. So much of what we see as important is based on our own attitudes and understanding of Biblical truth, of God Himself. While we might not think of it in these terms, eventually they will either adopt or reject various aspects of our worldview.
If you’re like me you let the more mundane things of life distract you from the bigger picture. I am more concerned day to day with how much I am spending at the grocery store and the number on the bathroom scale than I am about what I am teaching by how I am living, especially before my family. There are times when I am fully aware of the example I set and the need to intentionally teach about the goodness of God by the way I live and speak — but maybe not enough times.
Our children will learn that worldview because we teach it by how we live, even if it isn’t what we want them to learn.
This became apparent to me as I was studying to teach on “encouragement”. I see the Bible as a very encouraging book – in my daily life, in my forever life, and in the details of both. I know, however, that there are some who think it is just a list of rules they have to follow. The steadfast love of the Lord, His mercy, grace, forgiveness and patience are missed when we look for a list of rules.
It wasn’t until I was older that God, in His grace, showed me my sin and then taught me He had a plan to save me from the penalty of that sin. I knew early on that He loved me enough to save me while I was still a sinner. “Romans 5:8 says, “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Parents, how important is it to encourage our children with this truth? Every sin they commit is not God’s clear sign that they are destined for an eternity in Hell or even for His wrath in some lesser form. Children need to understand that the conviction of sin is a good thing. It is a sign that God is at work in their hearts, drawing them closer to Him. His desire is always for their good.
A child who only learns the Bible as a list of rules to be followed for a God of wrath will be discouraged at a young age. Children need to see and experience the goodness of God by having it pointed out to them on a regular basis. It is evident all around us. The beauty of creation, the gift of time, family, and people, even discipline can be taught as a gift from God (because it is) so a child will grow up to have good relationships and be a reliable employee, etc.
Parenting is a balancing act. Our children certainly need to understand the concept and the reality of the consequences (both eternal and temporal) of sin. They also need to understand the blessings of love, patience, mercy, grace, and forgiveness of a loving heavenly Father who will exercise all of those encouraging qualities on all who place their faith in Jesus Christ, His Son.