By Dana Bailey
While at a popular book store one day I noticed the hundreds of different books written on parenting. These books were in their own “PARENTING” section of the store and it was one of the largest sections. Topics ranged from raising children with disabilities to when is it ok to talk to your child about sex.
It seemed evident from the large number of books on parenting there is a huge demand for help and advice by parents. We don’t know what to do with these little people that we helped to create. I can understand some of the concern, children are pretty complex.
Our problem is when we turn to the latest parenting book before we turn to the Original Parent. God’s Word needs to be our primary source of answers in how to raise and train our children. We don’t need to wait until they can read it for their self before they know what it is all about.
God offers the absolute best help for us. Proverbs is an excellent place to begin. When we use scripture as our guide we can show our children where we get our great parenting ideas from.
Here are 3 of the many scriptures I like to use with my children.
Proverbs 6:6-11 shows us the importance of not being lazy & what happens to the lazy person.
Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest. How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.
Colossians 3:23 reminds us that how we work is even more important than our work.
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men
Ephesians 4:29 reminds us that our words to others are important.
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
There are so many good books out there from a Christian perspective on raising and training our children, but we need to be careful not to look to those more than the scriptures for answers. If we are going to prepare our children to be equipped for every good work then we should be using the very breath of God as our tool.
God uses His word to guide us and he works through us to reach our children. We can still read those parenting books. They can give some very good & helpful insight into training our children. Don’t forget who the true parent is and He is the one who will give you the wisdom and strength you need to raise up your children to His glory.
