Train Up a Child Why Have Children?

 

Train Up a Child

Why Have Children?

Proverbs 22:6 is true

 Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.

We as parents need to answer the question

What is the way the child should go?

What is the purpose of this infant who comes into this world with nothing?

Train them in the basic’s life skills

Personal hygiene, organizing of the things they have

How to prepare a meal, do laundry, drive a car, etc.

Train them in godly character

Love, Joy, Pease, Patience, Goodness, Faithfulness, Meekness, Self-control, etc.

Training takes modeling

Live a life that does not turn from the way you should go

Philippians 3:12-14

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

All training takes discipline

Nothing good happens without effort 

 

 

Why Have Children?

 

There are a lot of reasons for having children.

 

There are pressures from our culture

and family to have children.

 

There are internal emotions to become a parent.

 

There are also fears to become a parent.

 

Like…

 

 I will not be able to fulfill my dreams.

 

The fear of bringing a life into this world

filled with so many problems.

 

Children bring joy and chaos.

 

The pros and con list of having children or not

will more than likely leave you indecisive.

 

There are selfish reasons and unselfish reasons.

  

So if we are to be come parents

what should be the foundation and purpose?

 

Children are a living being.

 

They will grow up and be

a part of the sea of humanity.

 

The foundation of having children is life.

 

To have children is to have

a desire to reproduce LIFE.

 

Jesus is all about LIFE.

 

He said…

 

I have come that they may have life,

and have it to the full.

John 10:10

 

I am the way and the truth and the life.

John 14:6

 

LIFE, full and abundant

 

What is abundant and full life?

 

It is unique to every person.

 

What happens in the womb makes

each one of us unique and different.

 

You may want a boy,

but give birth to a girl.

 

You would not want to raise the girl like a boy.

 

As a parent you discover what God
has done in the womb and build from there.

 

I love the early development years.

 

A 2-year-old sees everything as new…

 

Discovery is a moment-by-moment experience.

 

You can tell a 2-year-old anything

and they will believe you.    

 

They are gathering information by the second

and the wonder of it all is so enjoyable to see.

 

The development years are years of love,

they give and ask for your attention.

 

These years are not just discovery years

for the child, but for the parent.

 

I think some times our children teach us

more than we teach them.

 

We call it play time,

 but is that really what it is?

 

It is a time of training.

 

We should ask ourselves…

 

 What are we training for?

 

Psalms 127 reminds us to let the Lord

be the builder of our family.

 

The children we have are from the Lord.

 

From the womb God gives them

to us for a future purpose.

 

They are like arrows in the hands of a mighty man

 being shot out into the world as adults.

 

These children in those formative years

are being equipped to be world problem solvers.

 

To confront the enemies of true Life.

 

Proverbs 22:6 says…

 

Train a child in the way he should go,

and when he is old he will not turn from it.

 

Parenting must have the end in mind.

 

What is this child to be like

when they are an adult and a senior.

 

What does this training look like?

 

I have to confess I loved the formative years so much…

 

 I did not want my kids or grand kids to grow up.

 

I was selfish wanting to be their hero,

their strength, the love of their life.

 

I had to see they would soon grow up

and I would have less and less

of a role in their lives.

 

Someone said we have 18 years to raise a child.

 

At 18 years old a child leaves home,
joins the military, goes off to college,

moves in with friends, goes to work

or stays to themself in their room.

 

The outside world is pulling them

into it, both good and bad.

 

So what will this person need to learn in 18 years?

 

 There are the basics of how to cook,

do laundry, organize their room, budget money,

handle cash, credit, Venmo and cash app.

 

How to drive and maintain a car.

 

They will need character…

 

Love for good

 

 Joy (not depressed or down cast)

 

Peace (wholeness in spirit, soul and body wellness)

 

 Patience (the ability to wait and not react)

Kindness (encouraging, moral excellence)

 

 Goodness (beneficence, moral obligation of charity)

 

 Faithfulness (moral conviction, trustworthy)

 

Meekness (humility)

 

 Self-control (strength to keep in check emotions and actions)

 

They will need tools to find the true treasures in life…

 

Wisdom

Knowledge

Understanding

Discernment

 

Children are the disciples of the parents.

 

Jesus said to His disciples…

 

"I have told you these things,

so that in me you may have peace.

In this world you will have trouble.

But take heart!

I have overcome the world."

John 16:33

 

Jesus prepared His disciples

for the troubles of the world.

 

And He modeled how to handle

and overcome them.

 

Children need to have the skills

to be problem solvers.

 

Children bring blessing and responsibility.

 

Every parent wants a cup that says…

 

 Best, or #1 Mom or #1 Dad.

 

Every parent wants to be their child’s best friend.

 

And every parent should want to be a mentor.

 

Every child born will change the world

with their life and

the lives they bring into the world.

 

There are only 18 years to get them ready

to change this troubled world.

 

Setting your 18-year goal

will take an everyday effort.

 

Parenting is not easy.

 

 Much of the problem is…

 

 We are still trying to figure out life for ourselves.

 

 Proverbs 22:6 is true…

 

 Train a child in the way he should go,

and when he is old he will not turn from it.

 

We as parents need to answer the question…

 

What is the way the child should go?

 

What is the purpose and destiny of this infant

who comes into this world with nothing.

 

Train them in the basics life skills…

 

Personal hygiene, organizing of the things they have,

how to prepare a meal, do laundry, drive a car, etc.

 

Train them is godly character.

 

Love, Joy, Pease, Patience, Goodness,

Faithfulness, Meekness, Self-control, etc.

 

Training takes modeling.

 

Live a life that does not turn

from the way you should go.

 

Philippians 3:12-14…

 

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

 

All training takes discipline.

 

Nothing good happens without effort.  

 

 

 

Scripture Reading

 

Psalms 127 NKJV

 

27 Unless the Lord builds the house,

They labor in vain who build it;

Unless the Lord guards the city,

The watchman stays awake in vain.

2 It is vain for you to rise up early,

To sit up late,

To eat the bread of sorrows;

For so He gives His beloved sleep.

 

3 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,

The fruit of the womb is a reward.

4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,

So are the children of one's youth.

5 Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them;

They shall not be ashamed,

But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.

 

 

Proverbs 22:6 NIV

 

6 Train a child in the way he should go,

and when he is old he will not turn from it.