Introduction:     As we continue to think of the home and family, one area of vital importance is that of raising children. We must remember that children are a precious gift from the Lord. They have been given to us for a few short years to help them to mature into the image of God. This passage gives us some much needed insight into this matter of child rising. This great undertaking involves:

I.          RIGHT LIVING (VV.1-3)
Successful parenting always begins within the parents’ own relationship with the Lord! We parents must be walking in a right relationship with the Lord. You will never be able to lead your children any farther with the Lord than you have been! These first few verses show us where we need to be as effective parents. There must be a:

            A.        A Reverence
“Fear the Lord” = to walk with an awareness of His glory, His holiness, and of His majesty. Our first responsibility is to bring our lives under God’s leadership. A godly parent places God’s will above all, realizing that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and we must have His wisdom to be effective parents!

            B.         A Reaction
Fear of the Lord results in the obedience to the Word of God. The greatest witness we can have before our children is that we take the Word of God seriously! That the Word of God is the rule in the home! God’s standards will be our standards! Your children will model what they see in your life! They will carry away from your home many of your actions. Therefore, let us teach them that the Word of God is to be obeyed!

            C.        A Reward
God promises to bless those who walk in His will and follow His Word (Psa.1:1-3)
Do your children know that God will bless tithing? (Mal.3:8-10)
Do your children know that God will bless honesty? (1 Thess.4:11-12)
Do your children see that faithfulness is blessed of God? (Mat.25:21)
Do your children see that serving God is optional or mandatory? - They will learn much of what they see in your life and mine! They need to know God blesses His faithful children! Let’s show them that God’s way is the best way! There is a reward!!!

II.         RIGHT LOVING (VV.4-5)
It important that our children see us living right, they must also see us loving right! That is we must love the Lord supremely.

            A.        He Is To be Our Focus (v.4)
Nothing is to be put ahead of God! We send mixed messages otherwise. He must be our focus and not just on Sundays!!!

            B.         He Is To Be our Fixation (v.5)
Our love for God should motivate everything we do. When it does it will fill us and works in us and reveals itself through us. Children need to see this in the life of mom and dad.
Right Living...
Right Loving...

III.       RIGHT LEARNING (VV.6-9)
Here is the Word of God related to successful parenting. 3 things we are to do with the Word of God:

            A.        We Are To Store Them Up (v.6)
The Word is to be in me and is to change me. If I expect my life to impact my children, then I must be transformed by the Word myself! Nothing can happen through me until it happens first in me! The importance and influence of the Word of God should never be underestimated!

            B.         We Are To Share Them (vv.7-9)
“Teach them diligently” = to whet or sharpen. It carries the idea of one object penetrating another. In other words, our training is to penetrate deeply into our children. We are to help them, on the basis of God’s Word to be keen, sharp, and discerning when it comes to living life. Not from “I told you so”, but form in them deep convictions that will last through their life! It is not about keeping a bunch of rules. It is about teaching them through explanation and example the truths of God’s Word!
5 reasons to discipline children:

            1.         To remove foolishness - (Prov 22:15 ) “Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him."

            2.         To rescue from judgment - (Prov 23:13 -14) “Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. {14} Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell."

            3.         To receive wisdom - (Prov 29:15) “The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame."

            4.         To relive your anxiety - (Prov 29:17) “Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul."

            5.         To reflect God’s character - (Heb 12:10 -11) “For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. {11} Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby."

God’s Word is to be such a part of our lives that it motivates us so that our children know that we are living out the Word every day! When they see us happy and blessed in the Lord, it will create an appetite in them for the same things. They may rebel for a while, but certainly, the Lord will work in their hearts and bring them home.

Conclusion:       It is far easier to build a child than to repair an adult. May the Lord help us to be the best parents we can be to His praise and glory! Is everything right with your relationship with the Lord? How about with your children? If there are needs, please bring them to the Lord right now!