Always Restless
Small children are often into everything, everywhere. Small children are explorers, adventurers, dare-devils, and without fear. While children are small and unable to know their limitations, they are in pursuit of anything, from the cat’s tail, to the lamp on the side table by the couch; indeed, but don’t forget the electric socket and plug-ins on the walls and in lamps with no bulb installed – these may be dangers for the little explorers. We all are amused and careful with our small children while they are involved in the early stages of growing and learning. Yet, when the same children reach an age when they are under-standing that some things are no! – No! We are not up to the task that requires our adult supervision and correcting impulses to take care that our children are learning while they are growing. The learning while they are growing process is also important to the spiritual development of our children.
The spiritual development of our children is very important to the growing process because of the worldly influences that are fostered in many of the homes that provide playmates for our children in school (i.e. public and private). Unless we are aware of the dangers of peer pressure even at very young ages we may loose our children to the beggarly elements of the world very early – cf. Titus 2:12, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world (KJV)
1 Cor 15:33, Be not deceived: evil communications (i.e. companion s- ASV) corrupt good manners. (KJV)
Prov. 1:7-15, 7 the fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. 8 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: 9 for they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck. 10 My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. 11 If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause: 12 Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit: 13 We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil: 14 Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse: 15 My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path: (KJV)
CONSIDER THIS: It is very important that parents of young children monitor their children’s friends and find out what kind of environment they favor and pursue in life; children are imitators of their parents – if the children’s parents use alcohol, curse, never go to Bible study, have poor disciplinary rules, and spend their time in frivolous pursuits, their children will imitate them in these matters. If your children are left to develop their own friends; this is a serious child rearing error. Children have no idea about influences, or what is right and what is wrong for them to do or to be. Parents; it is up to you to care for and nurture your children in important matters that are pertinent to their very survival as a healthy, spiritual, and intelligent person – God requires this of you if you as a Christian parent. Isn’t it time for you to examine your parenting skills to determine if you are helping your children grow up or if you are hindering their proper growth pattern that God has given you?
CONSIDER THESE VERSES OF SCRIPTURE: Eph 6:1-4, 1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. 2 Honor thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise 😉 3 that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. 4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Col 3:20-21, 20 Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. 21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.
1 Thess. 2:11, “As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, (KJV)
We must all consider the rearing of children as our greatest occupation after serving the one true God acceptably. We must turn back to the principle of our fathers and grandfathers, which were much more reliable than our modern standards of child rearing. We must return to God’s principles for raising godly children in an ungodly world. Dear friends; make no mistake about it – the worldly movers and shakers are after your children, they want them to be like the society of unbelievers that have brought our world into a chaotic state. A state where it will take parents of unusual integrity (i.e. dedicated Christians) to move them forward as God’s future stewards of the church.