When Paul says that we are to "redeem the time," he means that we are to use the opportune time when we have it (Ephesians 5:15-16). Fathers, how much time are you spending with your children? Opportunities for training are during the youth of our children (Ecclesiastes 12:1), not after they have reached adulthood.
The following five guidelines are necessary in properly training children: (1) patience; (2) persistence in teaching; (3) repetition of desired behavior; (4) reinforcement of good behavior by rewards; (5) removal of bad behavior by punishment.
Paul expresses the responsibility of Fathers in training in Ephesians 6:4. First, he says, “Provoke not your children to wrath.” That can be done by unreasonable demands, harsh treatment, and too severe punishment – as with an animal, so with a child. If you are mean to an animal you will produce either an animal that is mean or one whose spirit is broken. Then he says, “bring them up” or “nurture them” which involves tender, constant care. They are to be nurtured “in the discipline” which comes from the Greek word paideia – originally the word meant “educating” but later it took on the idea of “correcting” since correcting wrong behavior is an essential part of educating.
Discipline is essential to training a child. Note Hebrews 12:5-11 – fathers chasten their sons because they love them and look to a final end. Certainly, “no chastening seemeth for the present to be joyous, but grievous.” Then, he adds to the training process “admonition” which is the essential building block of good self-esteem and healthy attitudes. “Admonition” means “to exhort” or “encourage.” Every child needs a lot of “building up.” Children left to themselves – both from the standpoint of the physical absence of the father and/or the neglect of training – "are a shame to their mother" (Proverbs 29:15).
How well are you doing as a father? A rule, but not one without exceptions, is that an adult is the proof of the training he received as a child – “Train up a child” (Proverbs 22:6). So, if fathers look at their children’s character and behavior, that says a lot about how well they are doing their work. Do your children show respect to God and their elders? Are they obedient? Are they unselfish? Are they thoughtful, considerate and kind? Do they behave themselves in purity? If not, you need to straighten out some things.
Can God say about you what he said about Abraham? — “For I know him, to the end that he may command his children and his household after him, that they may keep the way of Jehovah, to do righteousness and justice" (Genesis 18:19).
—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets
Comments
Post a Comment