Train up a Child – Part 2

PROVERBS 22:6

“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it”.

Remembering  in Deuteronomy 6 we are commanded to ” diligently teach our children” …… lets consider what it takes to “train” them…. The definition of Train is to “teach a type of behavior”, “to point or aim something”.   Naturally speaking, when we are training, rearing, teaching, molding our children we usually liken it to manners, work ethics, careers, etc.  So what we do with our children is we INVEST in them.  We invest time, direction, emotion, effort, and lots and lots of money!  We want them to be successful members of society…..we want them to excel in school, excel with their peers, dominate college, find “the perfect mate”, get married, have tons of  kids (so we can have lots of grandbabies-Haha), make a zillion dollars and live happily ever after……Your souls should be screaming about now if your anything like me!!!!  THAT is NOT how we “train up” our children people!!!  Remember in the Great Command (Deuteronomy 6)  we are to teach our children to love the Lord our God with all our hearts, all our souls, and all our strength!    So our INVESTMENT should be SPIRITUAL!! (I am NOT saying disregard natural investments….but I’m speaking spiritually here). We are to “point or aim them in God’s direction, we are to teach them certain kinds of behavior (Fruit of the Spirit – Galatians 5:22).  Galatians 6:7 says,  ” Do not be deceived, God is not mocked, WHATEVER a man SOWS, that he will also REAP”.   Or as I was training up my children….we would always say….What you SOW is what you GROW! Do you want to see Godly GROWTH in your childs character and purpose?  Then WE are to INVEST wisdom, love, nurturing, and YES discipline into our children so they can GROW AND be FULLY INVESTED AND COMMITTED TO GOD AND HIS DESTINY FOR EACH OF THEM!!  Wisdom, the Love of God, the Peace of God, the Joy of God is CAUGHT not just taught like in a class room!  When an athlete trains, he trains with PURPOSE,  he doesn’t arrive at his goal the first time around….he practices and practices and practices and I might add and FAILS a lot!! (We will fail as parents and our children will also fail at times ….we just get up and CONTINUE!!)  There are good days and ahhhh not so good days….. the athlete INVESTS….lots and lots of hard work, lots and lots of heart, lots and lots of of time, and lots and lots of commitment to knowledge in that specific arena!  Our purpose, focus, prayer, and active involvement should ALWAYS be pointing to the fulfilled destiny for each of our children’s callings!!  Let’s INVEST into our children’s spiritual bank account…. THAT is training up our children in the way he should go!!!  As parents We need to ask ourselves WHAT are we investing into our children??  ETERNAL things or just NATURAL EARTHLY things?