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Five Things Every Child Should Learn
Proverbs 22:6
"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."
Have you ever noticed that your children didn't come with an instruction manual? It would be nice when a child is born if the instruction manual on how to train them was attached. Many parents would love for that to be the case. However, God did give us an instruction manual for every child, and that is the Word of God. The verse above commands us to train our children in the right way, but what is the right way? When you read the preceding verses, God gives us instructions on what we should train our children to do.
First, train your children in the importance of protecting their name. Verse 1 says, "A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches,..." Your child needs to learn that once they lose their good name it will be hard to recover it. One of the most valuable commodities we are given is a good name. Therefore, we should be sure to train our children to keep it good. Train them in the importance of keeping a good name in their finances and in society. Both of these areas are important in the keeping of a good name.
Second, train your children the importance of looking ahead. Verse 3 says, "A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself:..." One of the greatest things you can teach your children is how to determine how something will most likely turn out. Literally, this is teaching your children how to make decisions. Most children are never taught this, and because they are never taught this they end up making tragic decisions as adults. Teach your children how to make decisions by principle. Teach them the importance of every decision and that they should not be based upon immediate results or satisfaction, but they should be based upon future implications.
Third, train your children in the importance of keeping a proper perspective of themselves. Verse 4 says, "By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life." You will notice that being humble will help your child to succeed in life. Never allow your children to think highly of themselves. One way to do this is when you compliment them on their physical features, only do so by reminding them that God made them that way. Furthermore, compliment them when they do right, but discipline them when they do wrong. This will help them to realize they are still human.
Fourth, train your children in the importance of keeping God in proper perspective. Verse 4 talks about having the fear of God. Your children need to have a healthy fear of God. They need to learn that God's power can punish them if they do wrong, but also that His power can help them in every area of life. If your children will have a proper fear of God, then they will certainly serve Him.
Last, train your children that an uncontrolled life leads to heartache. Verse 5 says, "Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward:..." Too many children see the fun side of sin, but they never see the heartache that sin causes. The best way to teach your children the heartache of sin is to bring them with you as you serve God. When they see the lives that are broken because of sin, then they learn first hand that an uncontrolled life leads to heartache.
Training children will never be an easy task. Certainly each child will need training that is unique to them. However, every child needs to learn these five things. If they will learn these five principles, then all other areas of training will be easier.